Most organisations providing counselling and support services to the glbti community are taking a break with some already closed from today until around January 9th or later. In Christchurch NZAF South/Te Toḵa office in Christchurch closes tomorrow, December 23 and re-opens on January 9th. In Wellington the NZAF Āwhina Centre closes today December 22 and re-opens on January 9th. Their next Sexual Health Clinic will be held on Wednesday, January 11 from 1-7pm. In Auckland the NZAF Burnett Centre closes tomorrow December 23rd and re-opens January 16. Body Positive closed at mid-day today and re-opens on January 9th. For emergency calls the Body Positive telephone will provide a cellphone number to call to reach a duty staff member. Body Positive's Phoenix Club will operate all the way through the holiday season with meetings every Wednesday evening from 6pm/. And there will be a special Christmas barbecue on Boxing day (26th) at Body Positive House from 3pm. Rainbow Youth will be closed from 23 December until 9 January. The OutlineNZ office closes tomorrow December 23rd and reopens on January 4th at 10 am. Some national baseline services will be available online or over the phone through this period. The OutlineNZ counselling and support phones will be answered every day from 6-9pm right through the holidays. People requiring urgent attention outside of these hours are advised to call Lifeline on 0800 543 354 Appointments for an HIV test to be conducted at any NZAF centre in January can be booked by completing their online booking form or by phoning 0800 80 AIDS (0800 80 2437). The NZAF says GPs, medical centres or sexual health centres will be available over the holiday break. "Any person who knows that they have been exposed to HIV can access PEP by consulting their (or their HIV positive partner’s) GP or HIV specialist as soon as possible," the NZAF says.
Credit: Gaynz.com Daily News
First published: Thursday, 22nd December 2011 - 2:18pm