Region 5 church hosts health fair, promotes preventative health care, HIV services

A church in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) hosted a health fair last weekend, in which it promoted preventative health care with the focus being also on HIV and promoting medication that can be used to prevent persons from contracting the virus.
The Tabernacle of Praise Ministry, located in Rosignol, West Coast Berbice, is involved in various community activities, including the promotion of health and wellness. Mini health fairs and medical outreaches are included, and one such activity was held over the weekend.
Apart from focusing on health, the activity was dubbed “Christmas in November”, as patients received medical supplies.
Community Coordinator Dr Hagar Muhammad, one of the medical doctors who works in Region Five, has said the annual event went a bit deeper than most medical outreaches.
“It is health promotion and teaching preventative methods. For example, we have the nutrition booth, where you can get advice on how you should eat and about a balanced diet, reducing your salt intake, etc. We also have a breast cancer screening booth and we also have a medication safety booth in terms of how you store your medication…On Friday, we observed World AIDS Day, and the theme was ‘Let communities lead’. So, we have a booth here sensitising the public about HIV and what it entails, and the services offered in the Region and across the country,” he explained.
The region offers HIV counselling and testing; care for persons living with HIV, which includes medication for them. PEP [post-exposure prophylaxis], which is a preventative medication where someone who might have been involved in risky behaviour or may have come in contact with someone who is suspected to be HIV positive, can be used to prevent becoming HIV positive, Dr Muhammad explained.
“We also have PrEP [Pre-exposure prophylaxis], which is preventative medication that you can use if you are going to behave in sexual activity and you are not going to use protection. Though we always advise persons to use protection, but there are persons that might not, we have medication that you can use 72 hours before, to prevent you from becoming HIV positive,” the doctor explained.
Close to 9,700 persons are living with the virus locally. Of that number, some 6,800 are enrolled in various HIV/AIDS clinics and are receiving the treatment.
Meanwhile, the new HIV medication, which comprises Tenofovir, Lamivudine and Dolutegravir (TLD), is one of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) best-recommended antiretrovirals (ARVs). The drug reduces the viral load in individuals who are HIV positive, and within 14 days, once they remain on the drug, the virus can become suppressed.
Dr Muhammad said everything is available to help break the chain of HIV incidents in the country.
Meanwhile, the outreach, or health fair, also facilitated the treatment of medical infections and provided medical advice. “Also treating acute infections such as respiratory infections, and we are also doing some health promotion which is to inform persons of all of the services we have available in Region Five,” the doctor has said.
The doctor also took the opportunity to advise persons to utilize the services available at health centres in the region.
“That is where you can go and have a one-on-one with a doctor, who is a community doctor that also focuses on chronic diseases. We also have two hospitals in the region, and that is where you can go in terms of an emergency,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the community centre is on the second storey of the building, and according to Dr Muhammad, plans are in train to begin a literacy programme for both adults and children. She said the space can be used for other community activities, including the holding of workshops and similar functions. (G4)