BEST PRACTICE

LESSONS LEARNED

BYJACQUES LIVINGSTON

OUT LGBT WELL-BEING• OUT is a rights-based organisation based in Pretoria

since 1994.• OUT is dedicated to building healthy, empowered LGBT

communities in Gauteng and aims to reduce heterosexism and homophobia in society at large.

• OUT operates in five areas:

Mental Health Programme

Sexual Health Programme

Advocacy and Mainstreaming

Research

VCT Clinic and Wellness Centre• The VCT Clinic was started in Aug 2006.• The focus was primarily around voluntary

counselling and testing on Saturdays.• The Clinic expanded to include a Wellness

Centre in Sept 2007.• The VCT Clinic and Wellness Centre provided a

range of services on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings

Services

• General examinations• Voluntary Counselling and Testing• CD4 and Viral Load Testing• STI testing and diagnosis• Treatment Literacy• PAP Smears• Referrals• Mobile Testing

Growth in Uptake of Testing

Growth in Testing

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Months

Tar

get

s R

each

ed

Lessons Learned• Finding the right people: difficulty around getting

Doctors involved. Found that Primary Health Care Nurses are an excellent alternative – health education, specifically around sexual health.

• It is all about choice: uptake increased as services expanded – more attractive as part of a holistic focus (sexual health vs VCT only)

• The message is important: market services as a friendly gay and lesbian affirming alternative – appealing to all and not just under-resourced.

• Spreading the word: word of mouth is the most effective way of marketing the centre.

• Paperwork is important: Accreditation, protocol and administrative systems are necessary for the professional running of the centre.

• Bookings will make your life easier: Walk-ins limited to appointment only.

• You can’t do it alone: Referral systems in place.• Waiting doesn’t work: Take services to the people –

make it accessible and convenient to them.• On-the-go: professionals, working times, contingency

plan, confidentiality, consent• Mobile services are the way forward!

Thank You