THE Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) is expanding outreach efforts to engage persons in tourism spaces, workplaces and large public events as part of its strategy to reduce HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Regional priority communicable disease coordinator at the WRHA, Dr Tanesha Hickman says partnerships with event organisers and the hospitality sector have enabled health teams to reach populations that might not otherwise access services.

“Our team has partnered with hotels… with event planners… so that wherever group activities are being held, we are able to be a part of those,” she told JIS News.

Dr Hickman noted that outreach activities are being conducted at major events and entertainment venues across the region.

“If you think about even the big weekend parties that we will have… we have partnered with them to ensure that we can be a part of these initiatives within our region. In those spaces, we are able to reduce the STIs and have those conversations around risky sexual behaviour and how to protect yourself,” she said.

Dr Hickman added that tourism-dependent communities require targeted interventions due to specific risk factors associated with transactional sex and high visitor traffic.

“We have to look at the region as a whole. We have to ensure that we have programmes and initiatives that… can address the population,” she said.

Outreach teams also conduct workshops, education sessions and on-site testing in workplaces and communities.

Dr Hickman explained that outreach efforts are designed to meet people where they are, particularly in communities and environments where traditional health services may not be readily accessed. She noted that behaviour-change communication teams conduct workshops, provide educational materials, and offer testing services in a variety of settings, ensuring prevention messages reach individuals who might otherwise remain outside the formal health system.

— JIS