CHC WORLD AIDS DAY EVENT

CHC held an event at an internally displaced persons camp in Haiti for World AIDS Day on December 1, 2016. We worked with several local musicians to put on a music festival for the people living in the camp. We also offered free HIV screenings. HIV screenings have a stigma in the displacement camp, but with the light-hearted atmosphere of the festival, we were able to break past that barrier.

At the end of the day, we tested 199 patients and diagnosed five patients as HIV positive. We worked with each patient to verify the results, and through a generous donation we were able to give all five patients HIV antiretroviral therapy for life.

IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON

In the Peruvian Amazon, Juan David, a 21 year old male, presented to a CHC clinic with a history of trauma resulting in a perforated intestine. CHC raised funds to have Juan’s surgery performed in the nearby city of Iquitos. However, the surgery was not successful. CHC’s Executive Director, Adam Frange spoke with Juan David and took a detailed patient history. He then consulted with Boston-area gastroenterologists to determine a course of treatment. CHC raised additional funds to fly Juan David to Lima, Peru and perform surgical reanastomosis. That surgery was successful and Juan David is healthy.