Auckland's HIV testing and counselling facility, the Burnett Centre, urgently needs a new home, and now interested people in the community are invited to discuss its relocation options. The Burnett Centre has been situated in Poynton Terrace - close to Karangahape Road - for almost a decade. Extensive construction work in the area will last upwards of two years, resulting in reduced access to the building and increased noise not conducive to a therapy or counselling environment. The centre also needs to be relocated in order to meet the needs of Auckland's growing HIV positive population, which has been fuelled by an increase in new diagnoses since 2001, says the NZ AIDS Foundation's Executive Director Rachael LeMesurier. “We need to make sure we can both grow and be in a place that meets a cross section of people's needs,” she told GayNZ.com in June. Feedback from the community was invited in August and September, and now a gathering is to be held this Thursday 1 November to update and discuss with interested people in the community progress on the relocation, and explain further some of the options being considered. All are welcome to attend the gathering, and refreshments will be provided. BURNETT CENTRE COMMUNITY UPDATE GATHERING 5:30pm, Thursday 1 November NZAF National Office, Level 2, 31-35 Hargreaves St, College Hill Ref: NZAF (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 30th October 2007 - 2:00pm