Monique’s Caring Hands goes beyond HIV/AIDS counselling
Dawn Stewart
Dawn Stewart

By Telesha Ramnarine

PARANOIA, depression and other mental health issues have been found to be the most common among the approximately one hundred people that go for help on a monthly basis at CPIC Monique’s Caring Hands, here in the City.

Ms. Stewart displays a portrait of Monique Gildarhie, after whom the centre is named.
Ms. Stewart displays a portrait of Monique Gildarhie, after whom the centre is named.

These are the ugly results of people who were sexually and physically abused over time, founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Non-Governmental Organisation, Dawn Stewart, told the Chronicle last Saturday. Hence, mental health has come to be regarded as the “number one issue” to be dealt with at the center, which has been operational locally since 2003.
Monique’s Caring Hands, the local branch of Caribbean People International Collective Inc. (CPIC) in the United States is at Lot 18 Norton Street, Werk-en-Rust, and was born mainly out of a need to assist those suffering with HIV/AIDS.
In fact, the center is named after Monique Gildarhie, a Guyanese woman who died in 2002 from AIDS. CPIC was established in 1999.
Monique’s offers support center programmes designed to meet the “unique” needs of families infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS, suicide prevention, domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking, poverty and dysfunctional families.
The intention is to increase the number of persons who receive voluntary HIV counselling and testing among sexually active persons and pregnant women, while at the same time promoting abstinence, condom use and monogamous relationships.

Ms. Dawn Stewart (first from left) with participants of the MISTA Project.
Ms. Dawn Stewart (first from left) with participants of the MISTA Project.

A second goal is to ensure behavioral changes through culturally based training addressing obeah, voodoo and other superstitious beliefs; the roles of males and females in relationship building and sexual negotiation skills.
Monique’s runs several programmes, many of which the CEO said are successful. These include the SISTA Project, International Youth Summit, peer counselling, condom use incentive plan, behavioral care model incentive plan, women health and support care, men’s health and support care, testing, hot food service kitchen, and the MISTA project.
Meanwhile, Stewart was working in the US Army when she was asked to work on the HIV epidemic among military members. This afforded her the opportunity to attend a workshop in Switzerland where she was encouraged to return to Guyana to help with the very problem that was at an even more alarming rate.
She took such advice to heart and decided to come back home and work in the interest of those with HIV/AIDS.

A Sexual Predators’ List
One of the things Monique’s would like to see established is a sexual predators’ list. “If someone has been charged or locked up for sexual assault of a minor, then their name must be formed in a bank,” Stewart expressed.
Meanwhile, people from throughout Guyana who are in need of help can access the center on a 24-hour basis. “The call is usually transferred to one of the counsellors, so we don’t miss anyone calling who needs help. We also refer them to other suitable facilities if we can’t help,” informed Stewart.
Monique’s members would also make visits to the hospital once a month in an effort to provide assistance to those who are suffering with HIV, along with their relatives.
Furthermore, the center also worked with the gay and lesbian community and has a literacy programme that particularly targets residents of Sophia, Georgetown and Mahaicony.
Currently, Monique’s is preparing to engage in a sensitization programme that will help to educate Guyanese on the impending Local Government Elections.
Most of the work is accomplished by fundraising activities and volunteers, although the center receives grants to do specific projects.

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