Van Program
On the Go
Obviously there are a number of issues influencing the high AIDS rate in the Black and Hispanic community, but if I was the local health care provider I would like to concentrate on the accessibility of health programs for Blacks and Hispanics. Because these groups of individuals are isolated and ostracized among society; currently it is hard to provide efficient care for these individuals. If I was the health official for Orange County, I would propose a rigorous street outreach program for the cities of Newburgh and Middletown. According to the Orange County Community Health Outreach Workers, the County Health Department used to fund a street outreach program in Newburgh, but unfortunately the grant no longer exists. Currently, Orange County Health Department sponsors a health official to go out only weekly on the street, and provide condoms for individuals. Although there are several buildings in both Newburgh and Middletown dedicated for Black and Hispanic health care seeking, it is not enough for this community due to the overwhelming environmental stressors for this community. My goal as health official would be to build on this outreach program, which would consist of a van that provides free HIV testing, condoms, HIV/AIDS education, and other fundamentals for individuals.
This plan is emulating the Planned Parenthood’s idea with the Plan Van, which is a “traveling information and testing center staffed by educators and HIV counselors, is now appearing in commercial centers that are in high risk areas of HIV/AIDS.” (Planned Parenthood). A van would be used for testing instead of a building is because it has the advantage of mobility. In other words, the van could move to a different setting each day. Ultimately, every area in the city would be exposed to the van. Although the van would be in a different place each day, it would be consistent with its designated places and times. No matter the circumstance, residents would be able to count on the testing van because it would be in the same spot for the same time each week. The van would provide oraquick testing: “accurate results for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 in 20 minutes, using oral fluid, finger-stick or venipuncture whole blood or plasma specimens a mouth swab that gives only twenty minute results.” It’s important that the patients receive easy testing and fast results because it makes it more accessible for individuals. All the physicians and nurses on the van would be required to take medical anthropology courses because it is essential for them to understand the different cultural situations they will be in. If the physicians do not understand the culture of the patients, then problems are likely to arise.
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/nassau-county/plan-van.htm