Written by Shirley Thomas
THE Guyana Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBCHA) launched its major and final traditional fundraiser at its Secretariat at 108 Orange Walk, Bourda last Friday, October 10. Proceeds from this raffle will support operations of the GBCHA HIV Testing Site.

Besides surprise consolation prizes, four fantastic prizes will be up for grabs, being First prize: A trip for two to Trinidad

* 2nd prize:  A weekend trip for two at the Hurakabra River Resort
* 3rd prize: A pair of gold earrings
* 4th prize: An Oster kitchen appliance

Tickets costing $200 each will be available at the GBCHA Secretariat and other strategic locations to be announced later. Tickets can also be purchased from GBCHA Board members
The GBCHA has expressed gratitude to the sponsors of the prizes, namely Digicel, Kings Jewellery World, Randolph’s Welding & Fabricating Establishment, Hurakabra River Resort, and Courts Guyana Inc.
At a press briefing to launch the fundraiser,  Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Ms. Tracy Lewis, said the GBCHA testing site was initially supported by the United States Agency for International Development/President’s Emergency Programme for AIDS Relief (USAID/PEPFAR), but since donor support for HIV testing services ceased two years ago, the GBCHA/HIV Counselling and Testing Service is being maintained through the support of its members and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), which provides HIV testing kits.
Through one counsellor, the GBCHA site currently offers services two and a half days per week, and over 200 persons utilise the services every month. Lewis said the GBCHA hopes to resume five days of testing and counselling per week  since, under the present circumstances, more than 100 persons are unable to access the service monthly, hence the need for fundraising.
Earlier this year, the GBCHA hosted an auction and a take-away lunch; this raffle constitutes its third major fundraiser.
Interested persons can contact the GBCHA Secretariat on telephone # 225-0972 for more information and for raffle tickets.
The GBCHA is a non-profit organisation comprising the private sector and other members. Its Mission Statement is: “Inspiring Compassionate Leadership to Improve Health in the Workplace and Beyond”.
The GBCHA as an organisation reaches out to its members through sensitisation sessions, training, development of public/private partnerships, and highlighting of best practices.  GBCHA initially mobilised its members to respond to HIV/AIDS, and recently expanded its work to address gender-based violence (GBV) and other health and wellness issues.
According to Lewis, GBCHA members support the national response on HIV through various initiatives in prevention, treatment and care programmes. “These initiatives reach people in and outside member organisations and workplaces,” she said.
In appealing for a successful fundraiser to carry out the GBCHA’s work programme, Lewis emphasised, “While the Secretariat gives support to members in their work and serves as a conduit for a coordinated response by members, it also houses an HIV counselling and testing site. This site, (for which the GBCHA is raising funds), while (it is) one of the newer, fixed VCT sites, remains a high-volume site, continuing to provide high-quality testing services to member organisations and the community.”