Advocacy Analysis Hassle Free Clinic

Advocacy analysis of the Hassle Free Clinic, highlighting its role in HIV prevention and care for underserved populations in Toronto. Emphasizes barriers to testing and the clinic’s impact on improving access to sexual health services.

Daniel Miller
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Advocacy Analysis: Hassle Free ClinicHara YooMaster of Science in Nursing Education, Walden UniversityPA004: Design and ImplementationDr. Carohm BoimanSeptember 7, 2024

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Advocacy Analysis: Hassle Free ClinicIn Canada, more than 63, 000 people were living with HIV in 2016, and another 23,000 new diagnosis were made from 2008 to 2017 (Laprise & Bolster-Foucault, 2021). HIV isthe sixth ranking infectious disease burden in Ontario (City of Toronto, 2019). Nearly half ofthe reported HIV cases in Ontario are within Toronto alone, associated with burden of high-risk groups such as intravenous drug users, persons who immigrate from regions with highHIV rates, men who have sex with men (NISM), and Indigenous persons (City of Toronto,2019). HIV is not a curable disease but with appropriate treatment, viral suppression can beachieved to reduce long-term impacts of HIV and prevent further transmission. The mostcrucial step in the HIV care cascade - diagnosis, link to care, antiretroviral therapy initiation,and achievement of viral suppression - is to be tested and diagnosed (Laprise & Bolster-Foucault, 2021). In this current day, HIV testing is largely available, but barriers remain dueto stigma, discrimination, and social determinants of health which often include themarginalized and underserved populations. The Hassle Free Clinic, suggested by it's name,provides a hassle free approach to providing medical care for both female and male sexualhealth.Program, Costs and OutcomesThe Hassle Free Clinic arose in 1973 on Yonge street, providing drug crisiscounselling and treatment to the public. By 1975, the drug scene has settled down and thenon-judgemental and discreet medical care attracted both men and women for sexuallytransmitted disease treatments and birth control access. By the mid-1980s, AIDS crisis beganand the clinic started to offer HIV education and prevention counselling. Once HIV testingbecame available, the clinic opted to offer anonymous testing which was illegal in Ontario atthe time. The number of positive HIV cases were increasing each year and by 1989, the clinic
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