HEALTHCARE

IMPROVING HEALTH

Denial of access to healthcare services means the loss of an inalienable right: that of health and safety.

The shared objective of all those involved in the network concerned with prostitution, and with women and minors who are victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation, is to promote access to healthcare services for those who risk exclusion due to their weak or marginalised social position (for example because they are illegal immigrants).

Support for access to public health services is organised in the following stages:
1. Reception of the woman at headquarters;
2. Registration of personal data;
3. Assessment of needs and of the application
a) accompanying to the STD (sexually transmitted diseases) health centre at the Amedeo di Savoia hospital for clinical check-ups, analyses and gynaecological examinations.
b) accompanying for pregnancy tests
c) accompanying for specialist examinations if necessary
4. Registration at the I.S.I. centre to obtain a health card;
(to ensure that those without documents can have free access to healthcare services)
5. Telephone appointments and accompanying to the local consulting room for biological or specialist examination;
6. Accompanying to hospital, if requested by the woman, to book a voluntary abortion (blood tests, electrocardiogram, anaesthesiologic test);
7. Information about contraception methods;

The methodology applied always provides for the assistance of cultural mediation.

Road unit activities carried out by the association Within the area of the Province of Turin, TAMPEP makes it possible to contact women directly where they prostitute themselves. This means it is possible to carry out activities to inform about and prevent sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS. The women are given information about their right to healthcare, and about the possibility of access to the health services. They are invited to the TAMPEP headquarters for a talk in greater depth and possibly so they can be accompanied to hospital or to a consulting room.

The first contact may take place on the street, or in the headquarters if the woman is accompanied or sent by a friend of the same nationality, or by an Italian friend/companion.
The basic reason for accompanying the woman is to help her have full access to local health services, showing her how to get to there and how to use them properly, thus making her independent.

In addition, the assistance makes it possible for a relationship of trust to be built up between the operator/mediator and the woman.