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GMHP
Or to give it the
full name -Gay Men's Health Project, is located on part of the old
Baggot street hospital. Entry is via the doorway in Haddington rd,
Number 19. There are no distinctive signs advertising its presence
but its located in the first block just yards from the main Baggot
street thorofare. There is a confusing number of doorbells and push
to talk buttons on the doorpost, but usually one is labelled the
gmph. A security guy will answer the door and give u a
numbered card and direct u on into the general waiting room.
In previous
years this was upstairs and wasn't very accessible to wheelchair
users but its all on ground level now and has been much improved and
expanded. General reading material and copies of gcn are available
and don't be shy of availing of the tea or coffee which
is on the counter free of charge (self service). One of its main
aims is to promote the use of safe sex, so free
packets of condoms and lube are there for the taking. take a
load of them! They even provide brown bags for this purpose. Its too
serious a matter to be shy about. Get the idea out of your head that
everyone is looking at u stocking up; i.e. that u are some sort of
oversexed pervert.
This GMPH service is
provided with the aid of the eastern health board and the range of
services it gives is wide.. I mean if u are shy about going
into this place or nervous about taking a test or something, bring a
friend. It is open two evenings per week. Tuesdays from 6.30pm
-8pm and Wednesday from the same time.
From experience I
would advise going as close to six thirty as possible especially if
u are travelling from a distance. A lot of ppl go there
immediately after work so it does tend to fill up early
and they stop taking ppl in at about 7.30pm if there is
a crowd in. Indeed in my own experience they had to shut up shop for
new ppl at 7.15 one evening but that was an exception with 45
persons inside waiting for attention. More and more guys are using
the service so procedure is constantly under review so
the best thing is to give them a ring b4 hand on 01-660 2189
or 01-668 0050 to check out the current situation.
A recent
development that is to be welcomed is the appointment of two
outreach workers -David and Ronan and they are available at the
Outhouse at 6 South William street on Tuesdays and Thursdays between
2-4pm or u can drop them an email at
gmph@eircom.net. They are also present at the two clinics in
Haddington rd. Both are very approachable. Always bare in mind that
they understand the entire gay situation as do the doctors and
nurses who cover the clinic.
There is nothing that
they haven't heard of or seen b4, so don't be shy and always tell
the full truth about your sexual behaviour especially to
medical staff. You will be your own worst enemy if u don't. HIDE
NOTHING. There is precious little point in attending for a test if u
give incorrect information as regards sexual habits or times of sex
or unsafe sex. Better stay at home in that case and stop wasting
their time!
My first introduction
to the gmph was a number of years ago after going to an ice breakers
meeting where the importance of safe sex etc was stressed, so I
went there with the intention of getting vaccinated for Hep B -
sexually transmitted virus that can be easily immunised
against. If u are attending for the first time, a nurse secretary
will call u into a pvt office from the general waiting area to find
out what service you want to avail of, (that's where the number
system comes into play). She will then make up a medical chart for u
and this will be used everytime u attend in the future.
As regards
giving out personal info? you don't, its totally annoymus ,
you will have to give your date of birth and a name or
initials that u will use EVERY time u attend. thus if u want to
go by the name of PB then that's fine, but each time u visit use the
name PB and this is cross checked with your date of
birth for security. When u are called , they will use
the name PB so remember that while u are sitting there in the
waiting room.!!! No details of medical conditions or tests are
released to other medical doctors or GP's etc with out your prior
approval. remember its totally confidential. So having got your
chart made up, it just a question of waiting for a doctor to
become available and u will be directed to an area outside his
room.
Depending on the type
of medical check u want, u may have to go on the Wednesday as the
full examination for STD's is only carried out on
Wednesdays so bare this in mind. Otherwise both days offer the full
range of tests including HIV. The nurses who take the blood samples
are cool, no sign of a white uniform in sight so its very
relaxing and for ppl who hate the sight of needles, a welcome relief
from the white coat syndrome!.
If u are getting the
Hep B vaccination , remember it will take possibly four visits
to receive the full dose. They may just test your levels
first, followed by a return visit in a month , then a few months
later again. Anyway the important thing is to keep the appointment
and take the full course.
As regards the HIV
test... yes Pepsi Boy did take it! Unsure of somebody's loyalty
whilst on holidays made me take it. I didn't have any qualms
about it.. The procedure (and this was 3 yrs ago) then, was as
usual, take a number , get your file out and tell em why u are
there, they will ask u to see a counsellor first, b4 u see the
doctor and this is the important part. U have got to be prepared for
this guy!! this is the rough part of it all.
Apologies to the
present guy who is providing this service and no disrespect to him
either. In order that he/ the doctors can provide u with an accurate
result he must ask u very personal questions about your sexual
habits and in particular your recent sexual history. this is where I
said about telling the truth comes in - leave nothing out. Eg
like if u didn't even penetrate a guy but just waved it about in
front of his ass, then tell him because quite frankly HIV
transmits in precum as well and its a load of rubbish to
say it doesn't transmit in saliva either, so tell him about
your oral sex too. Think on? The virus is transmitted in bodily
fluids, so think about that the next time u are letting some guy
suck u off with out a condom!! Anyway this counsellor guy , errr,
made me feel like shit, to be quite honest. he scared the hell
out of me! It was designed to do that, as unprotected sex is a no
no. That's the bottom line, excuse the pun. Ok at that time I didn't
use protection but I never did nor was penetrated either, but
that wasn't good enough in his books. Some ppl actually leave after
seeing this guy! wat he says is for your own good and basically he
has only your interests at heart.
The other very
important thing u got to remember b4 taking the test is that u must
be sure that u haven't had any sex or been exposed to the risk of
infection in the previous 3 months, reason being , it takes that
long for signs of the virus to be recognised.
The next step is to see
the doctor and that is only a matter of going through how the
results procedure works, only the doctor will tell u the result and
u must be present in person for that. Other results can be given
over the phone if u are unavailable to attend. Next step is
just to go out and let the nurse take a sample of your blood for
sending away.
That's it, procedure
finished. But as everyone knows the next two weeks are/can be very
upsetting and the counsellor I attended did give me his card if
I wanted to ring him with any questions or worries and I felt very
much reassured by that. U are not left on your own. There is
back up available.
Again I must stress that
my personal experience was three yrs ago but it may have
changed slightly since then. I think if u have had a recent cause to
take the test, put it down on paper and send it to this site
for the benefit of others.
GMPH Reviewed by
Pepsi Boy
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