WINTER 2013 – FREE Please take a copy
In 2012, 35.5 million people across the world were living with HIV. It’s claimed 25 million lives globally over the last 30 years. That’s nearly half the UK’s population WORLD AIDS DAY 2013 ALSO INSIDE t Nelson Mandela | Positive Voices | World AIDS Day review
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REGULARS
FEATURES
Foreword – Daniel Charcharos
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Nelson Mandela - WAD 2000
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World News
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What’s New at NAT?
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World AIDS Day Eye
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Newly Diagnosed
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LIFESTYLE Positive Voices
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Nelson Mandela’s World AIDS Day 2000 speech
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Philip Giorgi tells us why he set up Positive Voices
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FOREWORD: DANIEL CHARCHAROS
Welcome
to Positive Nation Dear Readers, Welcome to the winter ‘World AIDS Day’ wrap-up issue of Positive Nation. It always feels like World AIDS Day is such a celebration that sometimes the harsh reality of the facts and figues regarding HIV/AIDS get forgotten. It’s partly this reason that I’ve put some on the cover. It’s not meant to be dour or sobering, just reflective. Sometimes timing is everything. Just before going to press we heard the news of Nelson Mandela’s passing. it is with Pride that we’ve published his words from World AIDS Day 2000. What else do we have for you? NAT tells us ‘what’s goin on’ and Philip Giorgi shows us how singing has been helping him and other people. We’ve also rounded up all the latest HIV related news and views to keep you abreast of world events. Hope you enjoy the issue. Take care, Daniel and the PN Team with love.
SUMMER 2013 – FREE Please take a copy
Editor: Daniel Charcharos
POSITIVE PRIDE ALSO INSIDE tSEX AND SELF RESPECT | PATIENT ENGAGEMENT | WORLD NEWS
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HIV/AIDS is the greatest danger we have faced for many, many centuries. HIV/AIDS is worse than a war. It is like a world war. Millions of people are dying from it. ~Nelson Mandela
DISCLAIMER © 2013. Positive Nation is published by Talent Media Ltd. Copyright of all images and articles remains with the publisher. All other rights recognised. We cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited text, photographs or illustrations. Views expressed by individual contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. The mention,
Editor – Daniel Charcharos
appearance or likeness of any person or organisation in articles or advertising in Positive Nation is not to be taken as any indication of health, HIV status or lifestyle.
Sub Editor - Robert Ingham Publishing & Advertising Director – Darren Waite Art Editor – Daniel Charcharos (cover statistics from Concern)
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New HIV prevention fund for London Up to £3.4m has been provided for a new three-year HIV prevention programme in the capital, London Councils said. The services, beginning from 2014, will be aimed at gay men and African communities, and will include condom distribution and outreach work. The programme comes after a study commissioned by London Councils found diagnoses of the virus rose by 8% between 2011 and 2012, to 2,832 cases. London accounted for almost half of the new cases in England last year.
London Councils, which represents 33 local authorities, said 18 of the 20 boroughs in England with the highest diagnosed prevalence rate of HIV are in London. Councillor Teresa O’Neill, London Councils’ executive member for health, said: “It is alarming to see such a sharp rise in HIV diagnoses, but London boroughs have been quick to act. “However, we have recognised that there are some cases where it is more effective to work together on a London-wide basis.” Dr
Yvonne
Doyle,
London
regional
director for Public Health England, said HIV “continues to be a major public health problem in London.” She said: “Men who have sex with men and black African heterosexuals remain the groups with the highest HIV prevalence in London and it is important that there are cohesive and collaborative services across the city to support them.”
Redditch people get HIV tests as part of “It starts with me” campaign AS part of National HIV Testing Week (November 22-29), the Blood Borne Virus team at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust asked the public to assess their risk and get themselves tested. The team supported the national ‘It starts with me’ campaign which encouraged people to take an HIV test at least once a year and stop the spread of HIV.
As we know, most people who are HIVpositive acquire it from someone who doesn’t realise that they have the virus. Testing is free, confidential, simple and fast. In the UK more than 100,000 people have HIV, but one in four doesn’t know. Members of the Blood Borne Virus team also took part in an ‘All-Day Health Event’ on Tuesday, December 3 in Worcester
that gave the public a chance to talk to professionals about HIV and find out what services are available in Worcestershire. To help the local population understand more about HIV and the care and treatment available in Worcestershire, the team have also created a website full of up-to-date and useful information.
Annie Lennox backs Highlands HIV & Hep C campaign Singer Annie Lennox has appealed to people across the Scottish Highlands to back an HIV awareness campaign as a new testing service comes to Inverness. Always Hear has been launched by Waverley Care to help increase understanding of HIV and to tackle the stigma and discrimination that surrounds it. The charity has also opened a new HIV and hepatitis C testing service in Inverness. People concerned that they may have contracted one or both of the conditions can have a “dry blood spot” test at the centre as an alternative to going to their doctor or a clinic. They will also be offered support and advice in a confidential space to talk. Dry-blood spot testing from the Inverness base was trialled in 2012. Waverley Care chief executive Grant Sugden, said: “We are delighted to offer our new testing service to those living in Highland. We work to build trust with individuals and enable them to be tested by a trained member of staff. If a result is positive for HIV we continue to support 6 | Positive Nation
them into treatment and also provide emotional and practical support.” He added: “We hope our Always Hear campaign will not only eradicate the fear and stigma that surrounds HIV but also help people feel comfortable and confident to step forward and take a test if they feel they are at risk.” The findings from a survey by Waverley Care conducted by YouGov show there is still confusion around HIV transmission in Scotland. A percentage of people in the Highlands incorrectly believe that HIV can be passed from person-to-person by spitting (34 per cent), kissing (17 per cent), sharing a glass (4 per cent) and coughing or sneezing (1 per cent). But the figures did show the vast majority of people in the Highlands do have sympathy for people living with HIV and that the general feeling is that more needs to be done to tackle the stigma surrounding it. However, a significant minority continue to hold stigmatising and discriminatory views, with 6 per cent of people claiming
not to have sympathy for those living with HIV. Annie Lennox said: “Stigma is one of the biggest challenges facing the diagnosis and treatment of HIV in Scotland and around the world today. HIV treatment has improved dramatically over the last 20 years but discrimination of the condition still means people are scared to get tested. HIV stigma fuels people’s fear to test, which in turn leads to new infections as people don’t know whether they have HIV or not. That’s why I’m backing Waverley Care’s Always Hear campaign to tackle the myths and stigma surrounding HIV in a bid to stop new infections and improve life for people living with the condition today.” In Scotland, around 6,000 people are living with HIV and around 116 have been diagnosed with the condition in the Highlands. Anyone who would like to know more about getting tested or to make an appointment can contact Waverley Care on 01463 711585 or email highland@ waverleycare.org
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India ‘winning’ battle against HIV-AIDS living with HIV and key populations at higher risk must continue to be central to the region’s AIDS response - as agents of change,” he added.
The UNAIDS Report-2013 on HIV said that the country has reduced new HIV infections by as much as 57% among adults since 2001. The UNAIDS Report-2013 was released at the 11th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific in November. India has been notorious for contributing to the year-on-year HIV infection rises in the region. However, the report said that Pakistan has seen an eight-fold increase in the number of cases and new infections in the Philippines have more than doubled. The report, however, noted that there is a definite progress across the region on the HIV front. “The pace of progress needs to be redoubled to sustain past achievements, drive results and meet global AIDS targets,” said UNAIDS director of the regional support team for Asia and the Pacific, Steven Kraus. “Efforts should be more focused on smart investments in right places and on programmes to reach the people in greatest need. Communities of people
Lauding the role of India in containing the menace, the report titled HIV in Asia and the Pacific: ‘Getting to zero’, said seven actions initiated by India changed the course on HIV epidemic in the country. They are leadership, information, focus, thinking big, doing the right things, managed network and strong systems. About the leadership, the report said, “The detection of India’s first HIV in 1987 led to the establishment of a national strategy working group. Since the early 1990s, India’s political leaders have provided consistent support for large scaleprevention for key populations.” On strong systems applied by India, the UNAIDS report said, “Policy and donor coordination are centrally managed, while programme implementation is decentralised through state and district AIDS control societies. These quasiautonomous agencies provide flexibility and speedy decision-making.” “The state-level societies are headed by senior civil servants which ensure the engagement of government bodies. A strong management system for
monitoring the work of public sector and civil society provided quality assurances. Similarly, strong central management through a national AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) provides better management of external partners so that investments are directed to where they are needed,” the report added. The states in India with high HIV-AIDS rates include Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra but the bulk of the patients are from the northeastern states of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland. In the northeast, the spread of the disease is said to be through use of infected syringes by intravenous drug users. Commenting on the report, regional communication adviser (UNAIDS), Asia and the Pacific, Beth Magne-Watts, said though there was significant progress on the HIV front, “we should continue striving hard for getting to zero”. “We must not take rest till we achieve the goal,” she added. UNAIDS – the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS – is a global advocacy group working for “accelerated, comprehensive and coordinated global action” on the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
White House Accomplishes 2011-2013 AIDS Treatment Target, Fails to Set New Goals President Obama, Secretaries Kerry, Sebelius and other senior US Government administration officials spoke at the White House on the occasion of World AIDS Day and the beginning of the donors meeting to replenish the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The White House meeting came less than two weeks after Congress voted unanimously to extend the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for another five years, including a new legal requirement for bilateral treatment targets. Activists applauded the achievement of reaching 6.7 million supported on HIV treatment by the PEPFAR programme surpassing the goal set by the President. As Sec. Kerry noted this was accomplished because the President challenged the U.S. government to respond - doubling the
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pace of scale-up of the program. However, activists from Health GAP were strongly critical of the failure of the President to set new treatment targets as required by law, noting that a bipartisan letter from 40 members of Congress to the White House urged the Administration to double the numbers on treatment to 12 million by 2016. AIDS activists from Health GAP welcomed both the President’s commitment to the Global Fund replenishment and his challenge to other donors to contribute to match U.S. funding “up to $5 billion” through 2016. “President Obama did the right thing today, issuing a $5 billion challenge grant to the Global Fund. More countries need to step up to shoulder the shared responsibility of ending the
epidemic,” said Asia Russell, Director of International Policy for Health GAP. “We applaud countries like Nigeria, who today pledged to increase domestic funding for HIV in return for sustained action from the donor community,” she said. Activists also applauded the President’s commitment to create a funding pot for AIDS cure research at the NIH. “PEPFAR’s bold treatment targets have driven steep declines in rates of death and new infections worldwide - but the current targets have lapsed and we cannot wait months and months for a new goal,” stated Paul Davis, Health GAP’s Director of Global Campaigns. Positive Nation | 7
Zimbabwe wants to introduce door-to-door HIV testing The Zimbabwe Government is adamant that it wants to introduce voluntary door-to-door HIV testing, arguing it is the cornerstone to prevention. David Parirenyatwa, Zimbabwe’s Health and Child Care minister, said; ‘The country cannot forgo the importance of a population which knows its status as it is the only way to win the battle against HIV. Some countries have embarked on a door-to-door campaign and, as a country, this is a worthwhile direction we may have to take at some point.’ Parirenyatwa, in a speech read on his behalf during World AIDS Day commemorations, said; ‘Resources permitting, it is our intention to run HIV counselling, testing and male circumcision campaigns in all provinces at the same time. People can only access treatment when they know their status. HIV counselling and testing therefore
is a cornerstone of the prevention and treatment services and as such we continue scaling up.’ Though many people are now visiting HIV testing centres, health experts say thousands of people are still afraid of knowing their status. Henry Madzorera, the previous Health minister, was the first to announce government’s desire for a door-to-door campaign last year. Mixed feelings were roused by the announcement. Some HIV specialists argued that confidentiality, disclosure and informed consent will present major challenges to the campaign while activists feel this is not a priority for a country that has a huge backlog of people in urgent need of treatment. Pilot studies of the campaign done in Bushenyi District, western Uganda, between January 2005 and February 2007, reaching 63 percent of all households, found that HIV home delivered services were the best.
A year later, Human Rights Watch and the Aids and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa collaborated on a research on Lesotho’s “Know Your Status” door-todoor testing campaign. At least 1.2 million people are estimated to be living with HIV in Zimbabwe while current anti-retroviral therapy (ART) coverage — based on the initiation of HIV patients whose CD4 count is 350 and below — stands at 86 percent. With the new World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines requiring every person with a CD4 count of 500 to be immediately put on ART and the simultaneous projected rise of ARV clients from 860,000 to 1.2 million, the government has no financial strength to initiate any processes on the adoption campaign. President Robert Mugabe is on record saying mandatory HIV testing is the most effective way to curb the spread of HIV, as long as results are kept confidential.
Caricom wants equitable access to health care for HIV/AIDS sufferers The Caribbean Community (Caricom) joined the rest of the world in observing World AIDS Day by issuing a reminder to the region of the commitment to work towards creating the conditions for equitable access for every citizen in the region to adequate health care. In his message to mark the day, Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Irwin Laroque hailed the work of the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) for the strides made in confronting the epidemic. “While I look forward to being part of history in the making, with respect to the Caribbean being the first region in the world to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015, I am very conscious that the promise of an AIDS 8 | Positive Nation
free-generation, characterised by Zero new HIV infection, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related death, though a real possibility, is yet some distance off,“ Laroque said. He noted that during Caricom’s 40th year of existence, the regional body has renewed and heightened its focus on its reason for being. “A Community for All is much more than a tagline! Rather, it reflects the “lifeline” extended to us by the Founding Fathers, at Chaguaramas in 1973. This TwentyFifth World AIDS Day observance under the theme: Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV infection, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related death, in many ways speaks to this lifeline and could not be more timely,” he added.
The Secretary General in referring to the theme for World AIDS Day — ‘Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV infection, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related death’ — said it resonates with the spirit of that Nassau Declaration, “the Health of the Region is the Wealth of the Region. On this World AIDS Day, let us renew our commitment to creating more of that wealth.” PANCAP was established at the February 2001 Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of State and endorsed by the Nassau Declaration on Health 2001.
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Rivers district tops HIV prevalence in Nigeria Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health recently released the 2012 National HIV/ AIDS and Reproductive Health SurveyPlus (NARHS Plus) report. The survey indicated that Nigeria now has HIV prevalent rate of 3.4 percent. The Rivers State is however leading other states of the country with a prevalent rate of 15.2 percent. NARHS is conducted to monitor the HIV/AIDS epidemic among the general populace in the country. It also monitors other sexual and reproductive health indicators. Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Sani Bala, at the national dissemination of the survey findings, said that the result of the survey was a reflection of the efforts of the Federal Government in the fight against HIV in the country. According to the survey, “the HIV prevalent situation, compared with 3.6 percent in 2007, about 3.4 percent of Nigerians are currently living with HIV/AIDS with 3.2 percent in urban, 3.6 percent in the rural areas and 2.9 percent
among young people aged 15-19 years.” A cursory look at the survey showed that Taraba State ranked second with a prevalent rate of 10.5 percent, followed by Kaduna State with 9.2 percent. Nasrawa State has 8.1 percent while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has 7.5 percent. Ekiti State however has the least prevalent rate of 0.2 percent, Zamfara 0.4 percent, Bauchi 0.6 percent and Ogun 0.6 percent. Speaking to journalists, the Technical Assistant to the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nyemenim Michael, said: “We are here to take a look at the figures that have been made available reflecting the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the whole country and also in the individual states. “Rivers State has had a prevalent rate of 3.1 percent, but today we are seeing a prevalent rate of 15.2 percent. We are terribly worried and alarmed by these figures. This is because to the best of our knowledge, these figures do not reflect the true health position. Not from our hospital services, not from activities we have in our outreach programmes. We were thinking that Rivers State should not have gone anywhere between 3.1
percent and 3.5 percent. As a matter of fact, we expect to come lower than that. This is because, over the years, Rivers State has been one of the states that have been very consistent with carrying out HIV programmes. As a matter of fact, when other states do not seem to have regular supply of drugs, Rivers State has it. The man power inbuilt into our health system has been so much recognised to the extent that it is impossible for us to see this kind of astronomical rise in the prevalent rate. We do not have any war in Rivers State, we do not have any influx and we do not have any epidemic and the health care system in Rivers State has not broken down for us to have these figures. So we are a little bit worried. We do not have any problem with Anti-Retroviral drugs and we do not lack facility.” On whether the state will protest the result, he said: “We just want to make a point that these figures are just not right.”
HIV ‘Cure’ Fails In First 2 Patients performed to treat blood cancers, so doctors are pretty comfortable with the risks, though complications can be lethal. Two HIV-positive people who underwent bone marrow transplants and were thought to be functionally cured have tested positive for the virus again. HIV virus lives in and kills white blood cells. These blood cells are created in the bone marrow, so researchers were hopeful that they could cure the disease by wiping out the infected patient’s bone marrow and replacing it with donor marrow that wasn’t infected with the virus. This is a procedure frequently POSITIVENATION.co.uk
Two patients from Boston got bone marrow transplants to treat their blood cancer three and five years earlier. After the procedure, they were kept on drugs, and the doctors have been monitoring their blood virus levels ever since. In 2012 they announced their first results, that the patients were still free of the HIV virus years after the transplant. To really test the “cure” though, the patients were taken off anti-HIV drugs.
were taken off the drugs: The virus came back. The virus was either at too low of a level to be detected while the patients were on drugs, or it could have been hiding out somewhere other than blood cells (where they normally look) in a dormant state that couldn’t be detected. “This suggests that we need to look deeper, or we need to be looking in other tissues — the liver, gut, and brain,” said study researcher Timothy Henrich, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “These are all potential sources, but it’s very difficult to obtain tissue from these places so we don’t do that routinely.”
Bad news struck just months after they Positive Nation | 9
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Nelson Mandela - Humanitarian and HIV Advocate dies at 95 As we celebrate World AIDS Day 2013, we look back at his statement from World AIDS Day 2000. Still as pertinate today as it was then.
“Our country is facing a disaster of immeasurable proportions from HIV/AIDS. We are facing a silent and invisible enemy that is threatening the very fabric of our society. Be faithful to one partner and use a condom... Give a child love, laughter and peace, not AIDS� POSITIVENATION.co.uk
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Brighton - World AIDS Day 2013 round-up
Brighton, East Sussex, has the highest rate of HIV infection, outside of London. As such the Brighton and Hove World AIDS Day Partnership, which included, Peer Action, Lunch Positive, Avert, Gscene Magazine, Bear-Patrol Social Group, BHCC Partnership Community Safety Team, The Sussex Beacon, Sussex Community NHS Trust, Sussex Ecumenical HIV Chaplaincy and Terrence Higgins Trust Brighton came together to help raise sexual health awareness on World AIDS Day 2013. Leading up to 1st December, Brighton was awash with a wide range of events that, while helped raise awareness about HIV, also looked to dispel many of the misconceptions that many people still believe about HIV and AIDS. Events included various fundraising activities, a collective of Brighton and Hove’s choruses all singing together for the first time, exhibitions and a plethora of information stands throughout the city over the course of the weekend. This culminated with a candle lit vigil at Brighton’s AIDS Memorial. However, this only tells part of the story of Brighton’s World AIDS Day. Here is a full rundown… Volunteers and staff from the Sussex Beacon took to the streets on the Friday before World AIDS Day, helping to raise awareness about HIV, along with their work offering help via their in-patient unit and day care services, whilst Terrence Higgins Trust’s staff and volunteers hit the bars and clubs across town in the evening to get the World AIDS Day message across to as many people as possible.
Across town, Gary Pargeter and his team from Lunch Positive geared up for their weekly lunch club, offering an affordable three course lunch for all those effected by HIV, bringing people together to share experiences. The occasion was a chance for Lunch Positive to invite partner organisations who have supported their work during the year which included East and West Sussex HIV Community. BSUH/ Lawson Unit, BSHU/HIV Chaplaincy, BHCC Public Health, THT (South) Peer Action, E. Sussex Health Trust Avenue Clinic, Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, MindOut, Sussex Partnership CRI and Sussex Police. Gary Pargeter said of the event: ‘World AIDS Day is important for us at Lunch Positive because it allows us all to concentrate on togetherness, bringing together our own members, volunteers, and those involved from the wider HIV community which is what the project is all about.’ Rise Living Library, along with volunteers from Terrence Higgins Trust’s ‘Positive Voices Group’, were on hand at Brighton Jubilee Library as live ‘talking books’ to speak directly to individual members of the public about their experiences of living with an HIV diagnosis. Ross, from THT Brighton had this to say: ‘For many people not involved within the HIV community, there are still many outdated misconceptions about what it really means to those living with an HIV+ diagnosis. One of the most important things about The Rise Living Project for World AIDS Day is it helps give a public
Hizzie Fletcher, 100 Artists
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Mandy Duncan’s Memorial Red Ribbon Dress
face, a public voice to those living with an HIV+ diagnosis in the 21st Century. The Living Library Project gives the volunteers here today the opportunity to talk to individual members of the public, give information beyond the usual facts and figures and to create a clearer picture about what it is like to live with an HIV+ diagnosis.’ Brighton’s Jubilee Library also provided a display stand to promote all of Brighton’s HIV organisations, along with the amazing ‘Memorial Red Ribbon Dress’ created by Mandy Webb, who commented: ‘This is an ongoing project, A Memorial Project. The Dress was made to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. It represents the many lives sadly lost to this disease and also the people still living each day with it.’ After its hugely successful ‘100 icons’ for Brighton’s LGBTQ Pride, The 100 Artists project, organised by local artist Hizze Fletcher, returned to Brighton’s Dome where 100 Artists submitted a piece of work for World AIDS Day to help raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, as well as raising funds through the sale of the painting for The Sussex Beacon’s HIV care centre. ‘100 Artists is important for World AIDS Day as it brings the whole community together to raise awareness for this important issue, which is HIV still effects thousands of people both living with or affected by this condition’, said Hizze Fletcher of the group. Brighton’s Hankie Quilt (a re-imagining of the original AIDS Names Quilt) was POSITIVENATION.co.uk
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Brighton - World AIDS Day 2013 round-up additional strains of high medical costs. Without the help of sponsorship many of these children would have no gifts or holidays through the season.’
Volunteers from THT, Rise & Living Library
also on display at the Brighton Dome, with the specific aim of raising funds for ‘Teddy Bear Touch Down’, a fund for two disadvantaged children living with HIV to go on holiday. The Hankie Quilt remains an important project in the community as putting the Quilt on display to the general public raises awareness of HIV/AIDS beyond the reach of some of the other LGBT groups and organisations. It also remembers those we have lost whilst also showing, support and raises the issue of stigma against those who are living with the virus. Maurice, from The Hankie Quilt Project commented: ‘This year we have decided to
Many of Brighton’s gay bars were on hand to raise a smile and funds throughout the day including Santa-Patrol, part of the Bear-Patrol fundraising group who once again had Mr and Mrs Santa (aka Ant Howells and Mysterry) available to have photos taken with the bar punters to help raise funds for local HIV support group, Peer Action. Danny Dwyer from BearPatrol said: ‘As a LGBT community group World AIDS Day enables us to unite with the Community on a Local, National & International level to remember those who have died, and give support for those living with HIV/AIDS.’ Other major events that took place across Brighton on 1st December included HIV awareness group, Avert, who brought Caroline Lucas MP and Brighton and Hove’s International WAD groups together to unveil the worlds largest red ribbon in the centre of Brighton’s park, The Level. to which Avert made the following statement: ‘The purpose of unveiling the world’s largest World AIDS Day awareness ribbon, created by Dr Surya Rao in India, is to raise awareness of HIV across the world and to remind everyone that although we have made huge gains in the combat against HIV and AIDS, there is still many challenges ahead and much more needs to be done. The ribbon also helps remind us all of those we have lost and who continue to live with the condition.’ All of Brighton’s LGBTQ choirs for the
Volunteers from Lunch Positive
first time - Actually Gay Men’s Chorus, Actually Gay women’s chorus, Brighton Belles Gay Women’s Chorus, Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, Qukelele, Rainbow Chorus, Resound and Children of the Theatre workshop - came together under one roof to perform and help raise funds for Lunch Positive. The range of events were brought to a close with the annual candlelit vigil organised by Lunch Positive within the grounds of Brighton’s AIDS Memorial, where everyone gathered to hear the reading of names of those who had lost their life to AIDS, and followed by a Service of Remembrance and Solidarity at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church.
Sussex Beacon at Brighton Station
support ‘Teddy Bear Touchdowns’ - which are holiday events for children living with HIV/AIDS in cities and areas across 23 countries. The holiday season is a special time for all children, but many of these wonderful kids come from financially challenged families dealing with the POSITIVENATION.co.uk
Volunteers from Lunch Positive
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2013 N-Oscars - Celebrating the positive contribution made by those in the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community 28th November saw the second annual awards ceremony of Naz Project London, the HIV and Sexual Health charity for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people. The Naz-Oscars (N-Oscars), hosted by award-winning comedienne Gina Yashere, recognises the charity’s volunteers who have made a positive contribution within the BAME by challenging homophobia and the stigma associated with HIV. The night also included the debut live performance of the newly formed Naz Choir, Joyful Noise, a community choir for people living with HIV. On why she decided to host the N-Oscars, Ms Yashere said: “Over the past 30 years, there have been significant advances and improvements in our understanding of HIV. We have seen a shift from the disease being classified as terminal to chronic; but the related stigma in many BAME communities has remained the same. We need to bring our social and cultural attitudes up to date too – something that the Naz Project works hard to do.” People of BAME origin make up 13% of the population in the United Kingdom and yet a staggering 52% of the new HIV diagnoses between 1995 and 2012 (where ethnicity has been recorded) are within the BAME population. Naz Project exists to promote sexual health equality for BAME communities so that they can
enjoy the same level of sexual health as the rest of the population. Marion Wadiba, Naz Project CEO said: “HIV affects people here in the UK, in London, in our communities. There were 16,955 BAME people accessing HIV care in London in 2012 – 53% of the total people accessing HIV care in London and nearly twice as much as a decade ago. In addition, an estimated 31% of black African heterosexual adults diagnosed with HIV in the UK have acquired their infection in the UK. Due to cultural and religious challenges within our communities, sexual health and sexual orientation still remain taboo subjects. At Naz we are trying to address these issues head on so as to improve and save lives.” Christine Ohuruogu MBE, Olympic, World and Commonwealth champion and Naz supporter attended the event. Christine said: “The impact of HIV and AIDS can be devastating; for the BAME community it’s further compounded by a lack of awareness. I want to add my support and be a part of the solution by helping to put a spotlight on the issues we face and all of the great work and dedication of Naz and its volunteers.” The overall testing rates amongst the groups most at risk from HIV are still far too low. Nearly half of black African men and women in the UK have never had an HIV test. Late diagnosis can reduce life
expectancy and dramatically increase the likelihood of complications. It is therefore vital to both individual and public health that all those at risk and particularly those at risk in BAME communities have awareness of and access to HIV testing. Naz Project exists to challenge myths and prejudices that exist about and within BAME communities and to ensure that these communities have access to care, support, and culturally and linguistically appropriate information. The winners included the following: Naz Latina Winner – Carlos Corredor SPARK Winner – D’relle Wickham & Austin Karibo South Asian MSM Winner – Asif Quraishi Counselling Service Winner – Ivana Paccoud Naz Vidas Winner – Jose Resinente KISS Project Winner – Parminder Sekhon Naz Africa Winner – Maureen Kringo Naz Faith Winner – Christabel Kunda & Agnes Baziwe, CEO, Africa Advocacy Foundation Naz Lifetime Achievement – Marion Wadibia
Naz staff at the 2013 N-Oscars
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Above the Stag is back with Jack Off the Beanstalk Above the Stag Theatre re-opens in a brand new venue on 29 November 2013 - a renovated railway arch in Vauxhall, London – with its infamous annual adult pantomime. Its ‘grown-up’ pantos have become a Christmas tradition with a loyal following who have been booking since July. Jack Off the Beanstalk is written by Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper, the team behind the previous box office hits Robin Hood – Queen of Thieves and Dick Whittington – Another Dick in City Hall, Sleeping Beauty – One Little Prick, and Get Aladdin. This year Above the Stag takes you to Upper Jumper, Yorkshire’s least touristfriendly village, in the depths of Winter where we find poor Jack Trott. He and his mum have had to sell their cow Kylie for a handful of beans, and now, evil Lord Fleshcreep’s planning to evict them so he can stage a festival on their farm. Enter Cillian O’Connell: sexy TV talent-show hopeful (and compulsive selfie-taker), hiding from the press after a drug scandal. Can he inject some love into their lives before Fleshcreep gets his hands on Jack’s beans? Above The Stag’s pantomimes are strictly for adults only, but feature all the popular
ingredients with songs, comedy, straight and gay love stories, a dame (or two), audience participation and more. Jack Off the Beanstalk is directed by Andrew Beckett, who directed last year’s Get Aladdin for Above the Stag, Other recent directing credits include; The Ghost Train, How The Other Half Loves, Deathtrap, Blithe Spirit (Manor Pavilion Rep Season, Devon) and A Found Play (Uncommon Nonsense, Royal Court). The designer is David Shields whose previous designs include Saturday Night Fever in the West End (Apollo Victoria), 1888 at the Union Theatre, tours of Strictly Come Dancing, Chess, Carmen Jones and Holiday on Ice, Dick Whittington for Bristol Hippodrome, and many plays and pantos at Above The Stag. For tickets and further info visit – www.abovethestag.com Coming next at Above the Stag The Gay Naked Play by David Bell, 14 January to 16 February 2014 A comedy about artistic compromise. Its off-Broadway premiere in 2008 has been followed by sold out runs in Phoenix, AZ and Berkeley, CA.
Ian Hallard as Lord Fleshcreep and Joseph Miller as Cillian O’Connell
With their classic plays, lofty ambitions and their own mid-town theatre, the Integrity Players have it all - except an audience! Performing to ten souls a night, the money’s running out, fast. Enter New York’s most successful gay theatre team, and a young male porn star with dreams of being a proper actor. Can they turn the appalled Integrity Players’ fortunes around with their fabulously trashy new homoerotic stage version of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of The Christ? A Hard Rain by Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper, 26 February - 30 March 2014. World Premier New York 1969. Kicked out of the military after a year in Vietnam, ‘Ruby’ rocks up in Greenwich Village in a rage and high heels … and meets the street kid who will change his world. Set on the eve of the Stonewall riots in a mafia-run bar greased with smart-talking queers, bribe-happy cops and nervous Wall Street high-flyers, this is an edgy new drama about what happens when you push things underground.
Kylie the Cow, Stephanie Willson as Miss Goblin and Matthew Baldwin as Dame Trot
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POSITIVE EYE - WAD
World AIDS Day at Positive East A hugely busy Worlds AIDS Day for the London based HIV charity Positive East as it supported a free HIV testing clinic in a church to help tackle the high rate of infection in the African community. Living Flames Baptist Church in Walthamstow embraced the Take Action Now campaign by the ActionPlus Foundation. HIV among Africans in the UK is 30 times higher than the general population, health agencies say. ActionPlus wants churches to take a leading role in dealing with the issue. The founder of ActionPlus, Pentecostal minister Reverend Fred Annin, said: “The Bible does not condemn people with HIV as cursed. It shouldn’t be taboo to discuss it in churches. It’s a medical condition and people need medical help. Prayer cannot bring our health back when we ignore medicine.” In addition to the work at Living Flames, Positive East were also involved with the following: ‘Major cabaret’ is from an event at The Victoria in Walthamstow which raised over £700
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- Tested in a library and a gymnasium - Got a local MP along to testing - Got support from the Bishop of Stepney - Partnered ‘Outpatients East’ (the HIV and sexual health clinic Outside Living Flames Church. Picture by Sheena Tenkorang at Barking Hospital) over the ‘World AIDS Day weekend’ with joint testing and awareness-raising - Partnered with Barclays who held two activities special events for Positive East - Gave away 1,000s of leaflets and oyster - Got a porn star to record a video saying card holders to the general public ‘get tested’ – check it out: - Spoke with thousands of people in the http://bit.ly/1jiI7n0 street, at special events and in various - Spoke to a group of 6th formers in a ‘pop-up’ situations school in Waltham Forest - Been helped by our partners at Milivres - Spoke to a group of 14/15 year Prowler collecting in the Soho store and old students at an all-girls school in on the streets of Soho Redbridge - Organised a 5K red run around Victoria - Spoke to a group of undergraduate Park on World AIDS Day with nearly 200 students at Birkbeck Uni runners raising nearly £20,000 - Took part in a discussion panel - Been helped by half a dozen gay bars following the showing of the Oscarand clubs across the East End who raised nominated documentary ‘How to survive over £1,000 as well as lots of awareness a plague’ Photo from Ilford Exchange with local MP Mike Gates (in the red tie)
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POSITIVE EYE - WAD
The Food Chain sees 70% spike in food poverty this World AIDS Day To mark World AIDS Day The Food Chain released new figures showing the impact of food poverty on people living with HIV in the city. The Food Chain provides meals, groceries and dietetic advice to people living with HIV across London, and have seen demand for its weekly food hampers climb 70 per cent compared with average figures last year. People living with HIV in the capital are being hit particularly hard by rising living costs, resulting in an increase in food poverty. The Food Chain has seen that across the UK more and more people are feeling the effects of poverty in their stomachs, and the rise in the use of food banks is testament to this. For people living with HIV this problem is particularly acute. People living with HIV can experience greater economic marginalisation and are therefore at greater risk of food poverty. For someone living with HIV lack of food is all the more problematic because good nutrition is a critical part of effectively managing the condition. This year The Food Chain marked its
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twenty-fifth anniversary. Advances in treatment mean that thankfully it now sees only a small number of people referred to it because they are so unwell they are unable to feed themselves. However, it is clear there is a growing need for the service due to the economic climate. Spending on the service has eclipsed £25,000 in three months in the last quarter. This compares with an average monthly spend in 2012 of £14,600. People living with HIV can struggle to access the food they need to stay well for a variety of reasons – poverty, a lack of motivation linked to isolation, poor nutritional knowledge or ill health. The Food Chain served it first meals on Christmas Day 1988 to 20 people. The charity now supports over 450 people in all London boroughs on a weekly basis. To continue the vital work we rely entirely on donations. Just £4 will cover the food in a nutritious meal served from The Food Chain kitchen in King’s Cross.
with HIV and need support from The Food Chain, or would like to make a donation, please visit www.foodchain. org.uk or call 020 7843 1800. This World AIDS Day, the Food Chain were very active. Their outreach included; - Collections in Victoria Station which raised £157 - The Admiral Duncan, Soho, held a special event which raised almost £400 - Supported by a number of other Soho bars with events and collections taking place at The Edge, The Village, Manbar, The Yard, Circa, Rupert Street and in Prowler’s Soho store – so far they have raised over £500 from these events - The largest event was the annual World AIDS Day Auction at Ku Bar. Everyone was incredibly generous and as always a date with the Ku bar boy was a very popular item! On Friday 6th December, Ku celebrated their 18th birthday and continued to fundraise. The grand total from this event will be released at a later date.
If you are resident in London and living
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Use your car to support people living with HIV Volunteer Drivers Wanted If you own a car and can spare 2-3 hours, one Sunday a month – then volunteer to drive for The Food Chain. We provide nutritional meals each and every Sunday for hundreds of people in London living with HIV. We rely entirely on volunteers to cook and deliver those meals – and right now we need more drivers. Mileage will be paid.
Visit
www.foodchain.org.uk/volunteer or call 020 7354 0333 for more information 18 | Positive Nation
The Food Chain (UK) Ltd – registered charity number 1003014
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FEATURE: POSITIVE VOICES
Why Postive Voices? by Philip Giorgi, Founder - Positive Voices Living with HIV is often difficult enough and many people experience depression, anxiety attacks and often suffer from low self-esteem. When I was diagnosed three years ago at the age of 5I, I was very ill and immediately went onto medication. At that stage all my energy went into getting physically well again. Since that time I have struggled with the conditions mentioned above and have been through therapy sessions and counselling, but I still find it difficult to connect with and express my feelings.
- to educate, inspire, have fun and entertain through music, song and movement
Music has always been a part of my life and being part of the choir allows me and its members to access and express the creative part of ourselves in an environment which is free from prejudice and stigma.
At the present time we have 15 members on our books and are constantly seeking for new people to join us. The age range is from people in their late twenties to late fifties early sixties.
In September this year in collaboration with the Bloomsbury Patients Network - who very kindly provide us with a rehearsal space and with support from the Terrence Higgins Trust who offered lots of encouragement - I set about forming a choir and from this Positive Voices has evolved.
- to provide an environment where positive people can socialise without fear - to work with others including community groups, choirs and individuals with a view to raising awareness - to use music and singing to support wellbeing
All singers are welcome. At the moment the choir consists of people who have never sung before to people who have appeared on the West End Stage. There is no audition and no need to read music. Enthusiasm and commitment however are a must.
This World AIDS Day we’ve have three gigs. This included our first public performance, which was on Tuesday 26th November at Bar Wotever at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. We were a guest choir and sung “Bring Me Sunshine”. We were thrilled to be asked and it was very well received by those attending. Then on 6th December we sung with the London Gay Mens Chorus for an event and, finally, we performed at the Bloomsbury Patients Network Christmas Party on the 12th December 2013 at Mortimer Market Centre. In June 2014 we will be appearing at the Various Voices Festival in Dublin. We have an eclectic taste in music and aim to sing a variety of different songs from classical to pop, musical theatre to gospel. In the future we are looking to improvise and devise pieces that convey our feelings as a group of people living with HIV and we are also looking to commission pieces.
Philip Giorgi, founder - Positive Voices
Positive Voices is a choir for people living with HIV that come together to sing in a safe and supportive environment. We aim to use the transformative nature of music and singing to enhance the natural sense of community that is fostered by the dynamic of a choir. This provides a sense of wellbeing and community to its members and will educate and reduce HIV-related stigma amongst the general public. We want to educate and build awareness of living with HIV through the stability of being part of a choir who are positive and fully supportive to each other’s needs. Positive Voices’ Values - to have an open membership policy - to create a safe space free from discrimination and prejudice and to develop a sense of community - to foster self-confidence and an assertive lifestyle POSITIVENATION.co.uk
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FEATURE: THE NATIONAL AIDS TRUST
What’s New at NAT? A major focus at NAT recently has been World AIDS Day on 1 December. Our campaign this year call on the nation to Fact Up about the realities of living with HIV in the 21st century. We identified five facts which highlight how different living with HIV is today from when the virus was first discovered 30 years ago - and we tried to get them out there as widely as possible. We believe by learning and passing on the five simple facts, people will be less likely to have judgemental and negative attitudes towards people living with HIV and will understand more about what it is actually like to live with the condition. Misunderstanding and fear about HIV also makes people reluctant to get tested. The Five Facts 1. People living with HIV have a normal life span if diagnosed and treated in time 2. There is no job which someone can’t do specifically because they have HIV 3. Treatment can mean that people living with HIV are no longer infectious 4. Men and women living with HIV can become parents of an HIV-free baby. 5. BUT people living with HIV still face stigma and discrimination. The campaign was widely publicised on the day and in the run-up. On social media alone we had a reach of 17 million people see the facts. We hope people will continue to Fact Up about HIV, beyond World AIDS Day. Another big focus has been the launch of our new resource to help empower people living with HIV to get the most
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from their health and social care services. My Care My Voice explains the new NHS arrangements and sets out the rights and entitlements people living with HIV have when using NHS and social care services. My Care My Voice can be found on NAT’s website www.lifewithhiv.org.uk – just click on the logo on the top right-hand corner. The new approach to health and social care services in England includes new and increased opportunities for people living with HIV to influence decisions and shape services in their local areas. But the new system is complex and not yet well understood. My Care My Voice shows people living with HIV how to navigate the new structures and have their voice heard. Some of the key features of the My Care My Voice are: t 4JNQMF 2 " GPSNBU DPWFSJOH the most important questions about your health and social care services t 1SPWJEFT B RVJDL SFGFSFODF UP UIF sources of your rights to help you advocate for the standard of care you are entitled to t &BTZ UP BDDFTT PO IPNF computers, laptops and smart phones t %PXOMPBEBCMF GBDUTIFFUT GPS each topic covered t -JOLT UP PUIFS IFMQGVM SFTPVSDFT and tools by organisations including NAM, Positively UK, i-base and THT
could get a fresh opinion on how to make complex policy information accessible and relevant. We wanted to know what they would have found helpful when they were first diagnosed and beyond. They provided invaluable advice for the resource and influenced the format as well as the content. We’d love to hear your feedback on My Care My Voice. Please tell us what you think on info@nat.org.uk. We are pleased to announce our HIV Activists Network has grown to over 300 people. But we are still looking for more people. Being a member won’t take up a lot of your time, but can make a big difference. It’s open to anyone who wants to bring about change in any areas relating to HIV. We have a number of ongoing campaigns that you can get involved with right away, should you wish to. We have also introduced a new system which makes it even easier to take part in activist asks. If you’d like more information on the HIV Activists Network go to http://www. lifewithhiv.org.uk/hiv-activists-network. If you’d like to join email HIVactivist@ nat.org.uk and we’ll send you through everything you need to get started. Sarah Radcliffe, policy and campaigns manager at NAT
To create My Care My Voice we enlisted the help of two advisory groups of people living with HIV. For one group we specifically recruited people living with HIV who weren’t already involved with activism or service delivery so we Positive Nation | 21
the study needs your help to see whether PrEP can be used in the UK.
Newly diagnosed? New questions? The PROUD Study In a one-off different take on our ‘Newly Diagnosed’ series, i-Base tells us the details of the important study and why it could be useful to you. The little blue pill that can stop HIV: UK study enrolling gay men now - PROUD. The PROUD study uses a single pill in a strategy called PrEP to reduce the risk of HIV transmission. It is still enrolling, but only for a couple of months. ćF XFCTJUF XXX J #BTF JOGP JODMVEFT BO POMJOF 2 " TFSWJDF XIFSF you can email questions that will be answered online or emailed back to you privately. There are now over 1500 online questions and answers that cover a wide range of subjects, including questions asked by those newly diagnosed. This is an important issue for Positive Nation, because there is a low awareness of PrEP in the community. Where PrEP is approved, for example in the USA, approximately half of the current use is by gay men and half by heterosexuals.
This UK study offers gay men the chance to be able to use PrEP to protect against 22 | Positive Nation
Everyone is guaranteed to be able to get PrEP. This is a two year study and half of participants will start straight away and half will start a year later. This is a much better design than using a placebo or dummy pill. Although it may be disappointing if you are randomised to the delayed group, you will still get to use PrEP long before the NHS decides on whether this should be available free. The study also includes good care, support and monitoring. Otherwise, it just involves getting on with your life as normal, but keeping a diary of when you take PrEP, plus potential sexual risks. PrEP is likely to have the greatest protection for people who have the greatest risks. So if you already use condoms every time, this is not the study for you. But if you don’t always use condoms, or if you don’t regularly use condoms, this study could prevent your next HIV test coming back positive. You have the chance to access great healthcare and to use an effective way to prevent HIV. You can still join the study if you mainly use condoms and if you intend to continue using condoms through the study. This study is also likely to be important in deciding whether the NHS will prescribe PrEP to gay men. How well does PrEP work? There is very strong evidence that PrEP is effective. This largest study in gay men (called iPrEX) was particularly important because it enrolled gay men who had a high risk of catching HIV. This is because: t ćFZ XFSF ZPVOH IBMG XFSF BOE NPTU of the rest were under 40). t ćFZ XFSF TFYVBMMZ BDUJWF BWFSBHF partners in the previous 3 months).
HIV. PrEP involves taking a daily pill that contains two widely used HIV meds.
So long as you take PrEP it gives a very high level of protection against HIV transmission possibly reducing the risk of infection by more than 95%. The study is called PROUD and it is still enrolling people for the next month or so, but this is only for a limited period. Currently
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t ćFZ GSFRVFOUMZ VTFE BMDPIPM IBMG IBE NPSF than 4 drink on days they were drinking). t ćFZ EJEO U VTF DPOEPNT FWFSZ UJNF UIFZ had sex (80% had had sex without a condom in the previous 6 months). t )*7 XBT SBSFMZ EJTDVTTFE CFGPSF TFY CFDBVTF this was often difficult (only 2% had knowingly had recently sex with a positive partner). t "U MFBTU PG NFO IBE BMTP IBE B SFDFOU STI. If some of these factors are relevant to your life, then this study could make a big difference to you. Although PrEP may not be for everyone, a recent survey reported that about 50% of gay men in London were interested in this as an option to prevent HIV. The iPrEX study showed that PrEP had a greater protection against HIV even that using condoms, so long as people were taking the meds. This is because even when trying to use condoms all the time, sometimes they don’t get used, or sometimes they can tear or fall off. The protection from PrEP is continuous - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
PrEP though can only be effective if you take the pills. But the level of protection is likely to protect against different ways that HIV is transmitted. This should include being active against the lower risk from oral transmission. PrEP studies report a very close relationship between taking PrEP and the level of protection. Just as condoms sometimes get missed, you can also forget to take a pill. Luckily, the level of protection is still likely to be high so long as
you take PrEP most of the time. An occasional missed pill is likely to be fine. Unlike when the drugs in PrEP are use to treat HIV, missing doses is not related to a risk of developing drug resistance. There is no risk of developing drug resistance if you are still HIV negative. It is also important to remember that PrEP does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The study still stresses the importance of condoms and will include other information and support to help with looking after your sexual health. Which clinics are running the PROUD study? The PROUD study is being run at nine of the largest sexual health clinics in London. It is also running in Birmingham, Brighton, Manchester, Sheffield and York. The PROUD study is an independent study supported by Public Health England (PHE) and the Medical Research Council (MRC). i-Base support this study as a potentially important and exciting option for gay men to be able to use if they are at a high risk of catching HIV. i-Base is an independent HIV treatment information charity that has no financial relationship with the study or the clinic sites. Further information If you would like to talk to a community treatment advocate about PrEP, the i-Base phoneline (0808 800 6013) is open on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 12.00 noon - 4.00 pm. If you would like to speak with someone outside these hours this can be arranged by sending an email to the i-Base information service: questions@i-Base.org.uk
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