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Positive Wellness Program

The Positive Wellness Program offers programming for people who are HIV+ and/or hepatitis C+. Programming includes:

  • short-term, solution-focused counselling for PWP members, their families and friends (by appointment and on a drop-in basis)
  • advocacy and support with issues regarding income assistance, health care, employment, housing, and legal matters
  • support around social, emotional and practical needs, including up-to-date information about disease management, harm reduction, safer sex, and health and wellness promotion
  • referrals to appropriate community resources, professionals, agencies and institutions
  • Persons With Disability status application assessment and assistance

For information on services provided in each of our locations, please see below. Here is a video of Gill Scadeng the nutrition program coordinator in Victoria as featured in the Times Colonist in March 2011.

 

VICTORIA Victoria programming includes:

  • a member-only drop-in space that allows HIV+ members to interact with their peers while enjoying refreshments and a hot, nutritious lunch. Hepatitis C members are welcomed in this program on Tuesdays (except the Friday after cheque day)
  • access to weekly doctor’s clinic
  • assistance with obtaining local public transportation tickets.

NANAIMO The Nanaimo program offers a drop in space for HIV+ and hepatitis C+ clients that includes access to meal replacement drinks, coffee, fruit and snacks on a daily basis. Members have access to one food voucher per year (income dependant) and payment for their yearly bus pass (for clients who are eligible through their PWD benefits). A gay men’s support group meets once per month. This office also prints a weekly housing list of what's available in Nanaimo and surrounding areas and a monthly newsletter. COURTENAY/COMOX The Positive Wellness Program operates from 9am – 5pm Monday to Thursday. Specific In addition to the basic services common to all locations, this office offers the following services for people with HIV or hepatitis C:

  • Daily drop in the lounge – coffee etc between 9 – 12 pm
  • Mondays – 9 – 12 pm – Homeless Outreach Worker (assistance locating and maintaining housing)
  • Tuesdays – 10 – 12 pm – community health nurse (wound care, blood pressure, blood sugar, etc.)
  • Wednesdays – 11 – 12 pm – public health nurse (vaccinations and STI/HIV/Hep C testing, etc.)
  • Thursdays – 1:15 – 2:30 pm – Hepatitis C Support Group

Campbell River This office offers a drop in lounge for HIV and or hepatitis C positive clients. Members may also access personal hygiene supplies, some clothing and donated baked goods. Port Hardy A kitchen program in Port Hardy is offered three times per month. Some services are offered on a mobile basis to meet clients in smaller, rural and remote communities. Back to top.