The day an anonymous donor gave $5,000 towards the Vancouver Island Sexual Health SocietyB次元官网网址檚 relocation campaign, the atmosphere in the clinic turned downright joyous.
B次元官网网址淚t was like someone had given us all a shot of adrenaline,B次元官网网址� said Jennifer Gibson, co-ordinator of community education services. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so validating to have someone from the outside recognize what youB次元官网网址檙e doing and give you opportunities to keep doing that. ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty amazing.B次元官网网址�
The donation B次元官网网址� the largest the society has received since it was founded in 1969 B次元官网网址� covers one-third of the fundraising goal set to purchase the new medical equipment, including three additional exam tables, needed once the clinic relocates to Saanich in December.
The society, currently operating on Fort Street in Victoria, saw about 20,000 client visits last year B次元官网网址� a demanding volume for a clinic with three exam rooms.
The new clinic will offer a broader range of educational and medical services B次元官网网址� if they can get the cash together B次元官网网址� in twice the space at 3960 Quadra St.
To raise $15,000, the society has launched an online campaign at .
The total budget for the relocation is set at $50,000.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e known for the last couple of years that weB次元官网网址檝e really outgrown the space and it got to the point that it was critical we relocate,B次元官网网址� said Bobbi Turner, executive director of the society.
Reception is overflowing with clinic files, many of which are now stored in boxes throughout the office. Staff B次元官网网址� 15 doctors alongside about 25 active volunteers B次元官网网址� have been forced to alternate between work stations.
The new location will allow for more client visits in more comfortable spaces, as well as on site training and more educational workshops.
B次元官网网址淲e started out as a one-doctor organization and have grown substantially from that, from just a birth control clinic that was very female-centred and about family planning to what we currently see: people of all ages and genders and orientations and identities and abilities for sexual health,B次元官网网址� Gibson said.
B次元官网网址淭he space weB次元官网网址檝e been in just doesnB次元官网网址檛 meet the needs of our clients anymore B次元官网网址� to the point that theyB次元官网网址檙e actually having to stand while theyB次元官网网址檙e waiting for the doctor because weB次元官网网址檝e run out of seats. ThatB次元官网网址檚 not comfortable care.B次元官网网址�
The new Island Sexual Health Centre location was also selected for its closer proximity to the West Shore and Saanich Peninsula regions, from where many clients travel after two lesser-accessed satellite offices were closed earlier this fall. It will continue to offer a full range of education and medical sexual health services.
The United Way of Greater Victoria, the Vancouver Island Health Authority and provincial gaming grants provide partial funding for the society, with the remainder of its operating funds coming from medical services plan billing and profits from contraception sales, which are declining as the popularity of less profitable contraceptive methods increases.
B次元官网网址淲ith all of the education components to the organization and ensuring that the clients donB次元官网网址檛 ever walk away without their contraceptives, regardless of their ability to pay B次元官网网址� those are things that we really believe in and that takes its toll,B次元官网网址� Turner said. B次元官网网址淚n order to provide all those free services, that really hits the pocketbook.B次元官网网址�
For more, see islandsexualhealth.org.
nnorth@saanichnews.com
