Late Diagnosis - More AIDS Deaths

posted: 11/04/2011

12 years of UK HIV data shows that people diagnosed late with HIV (when the CD4 count was under 350) are 6 times more likely to die of AIDS than other people with HIV.Three quarters of all the people who die with an AIDS diagnosis were diagnosed with HIV late – when their CD4 cell count was below 350.
 

The researchers who gave this news to the British HIV Association Conference in Bournemouth last week, used the UK’s national HIV surveillance system data and death certificates at the Office of National Statistics, for the years 1997 to 2008.
 

While HIV deaths have plunged since combination treatments began in the mid 1990s, over 500 people with HIV die each year, and the HIV death rate is still five times higher than for the general population.
 

Over these 12 years, almost half the deaths were due to AIDS (49%). The proportion varied during this time but is not falling steadily, as we would hope.

The researchers milked the data by using advanced statistical tools. That is how they discovered that being diagnosed when the CD4 is below 350 makes people six times more likely than others with HIV to die of AIDS. They also estimate that 74% of all AIDS deaths are explained by late diagnosis. Even among people infected in the UK, 66% of AIDS deaths are linked to late diagnosis.

• Men were more likely than women to die of AIDS.
• But men who have sex with men were less likely to die than heterosexually infected men and women, whether this was in Africa, the UK or anywhere else.
• Injecting drug users had a much higher risk of death than all others.

The most common causes of AIDS deaths were PCP (a type of pneumonia common with advanced HIV illness), other AIDS-related pneumonias, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, TB and neuro-cerebral causes.
These findings make very clear how important it is to reduce late diagnosis – NorthWest England is the worst region in England for late diagnosis.

Source with link to reference

Teaching Links with Zambia

posted: 22/12/2010

George House Trust is proud to welcome and host Remmy Mukonka, the Executive Director of the Zambian teachers HIV organisation, AATAZ. Remmy is learning through working at George House Trust, as part of the Commonwealth Exchange Programme. It's two way - he's also helping us with his insights and advice.

Here we tell you about this exciting project, the Anti-AIDS Teachers Association of Zambia, and about how you may help.

More about AATAZ You can find out much more about AATAZ on our other pages here.

HIV and Teachers in Zambia
The Zambian HIV organisation of teachers, AATAZ, was founded in 2001 because healthy teachers are key to a healthy community. AATAZ works to raise HIV and AIDS awareness and promotes positive behaviour change among teachers, young people and the local community. In Zambia 15.2% of the population has HIV: 1,100,000 people. In NW England under 1% of the population has HIV.

AATAZ believe education is a powerful social vaccine against the spread of HIV.

The organisation started because of the high rates of HIV infection and death among Zambian teachers, which has a devastating impact not only on teachers, but on the whole school system.

AATAZ has developed holistic approachs to supporting teachers and working with the education system, to combat HIV and make a better future for Zambia’s children.

AATAZ at work
At their centre in Lusaka, AATAZ offers local orphans and vulnerable children IT skills training, dance, theatre, music and sport.

These help improve communication, negotiation and team skills. The schooling provides solidarity and respect, and increases self-confidence and protection from exploitation and harm.

AATAZ sends and supports 30 orphans to attend school.

The core of the AATAZ mission, is caring for teachers living with HIV and AIDS and preventing new infections among teachers.

To do this they set up teacher support groups in all nine Zambian provinces. This means teachers can quickly get the local care and support they need to live well, and the support strengthens their families’ ability to cope with the effects of HIV.

Zambian Community Outreach
The Anti-AIDS Teachers’ Association of Zambia reaches thousands of vulnerable and disadvantaged families each year, with HIV information, prevention strategies, nutrition advice, care and support, and free HIV-testing and counselling.

Yet AATAZ faces a severe lack of resources that limits what they can do and the help they can provide. AATAZ are, for example, seeking new or second hand computers, to help them make a bigger improvement in the quality of life of the children they help.

AATAZ has the track record, expertise, people, passion, skills, networks, experience, integrity and reputation, to deliver impactful, tangible and sustainable results. What they lack is basic resources.
 

The AATAZ team have delivered extraordinary results with remarkably few resources.

With a few more resources, they could make a major impact on even more people’s lives, in a country where HIV has already reduced Zambians’ average life expectancy to 42 years.

Computers are one of the most powerful ways to boost their ability to make an impact in the fight against HIV, and to brighten the future for the children.
 

With internet access computers are the most effective and affordable gateway to new resources, information and networks, and one of the most powerful tools for helping AATAZ raise funds and communicate.

AATAZ know computers are the key to sustainability and will help it become less dependent on goodwill.

What would help?
AATAZ are urgently looking for both desktop and laptop computers. Desktops are best for teaching the children, while the laptops are the most cost effective and portable way for staff to have the most impact.

Investing in technology and infrastructure is one of the most powerful ways to increase AATAZ's capacity. This is particularly true of charities in resource-poor settings, where basic technology can transform an organisation.

Make a big difference
If you are able to support a charity this year, then this is one where you can make a big difference. Small investments in computers will have a big impact. The results are big in scale, the need is urgent, and the results will be seen quickly. That’s the very real difference your support would make, it would mean the highest possible impact for every pound you are able to offer.

Keen to help?
We will provide a way for people to make donations to AATAZ very early in the new year, 2011.

Computers4Africa

Acorns into Oaks - donations making a big difference

Even small donations support the work of AATAZ in big ways
 

What difference would you like to make?

• £2 buys a basic school stationery kit for one child (2 pencils, 2 biros, sharpener, eraser, ruler)
• £5 buys one pair of childrens shoes for school
• £10 buys seedlings for one person to start a basic vegetable and herb garden
• £12 buys a school uniform for one child
• £22 buys two African drums for the dance and music group
• £30 pays for a garden spade and a hoe for a herb and vegetable garden
• £50 pays for the football team refreshments and first aid kits for two months
• £70 pays one month’s salary of a peer educator in their Recreation Centre 
• £85 pays for a year of high school fees for one child
• £100 pays one month's salary of the psychosocial children's counsellor 
• £200 would help install safe and hygenic children's toilets at the centre.

Football Club raises money for George House Trust

posted: 09/12/2010

George House Trust would like to say a big thank you to the Albaroni Football Club, who's team raised funds and awareness about HIV, as part of World AIDS Day 2010.

The young players wore red ribbons and heard a talk about HIV as well as collecting funds to support Geroge House Trust's work.

Lancashire World AIDS Day

posted: 24/11/2010

World AIDS Day events in Preston and central Lancashire are

• Friday 26th November 2010

9pm til late - Red Ribbon Cabaret at
53 Degrees @ UCLAN - University of Central Lanchashire, Preston 
The annual evening of entertainment to raise funds for local HIV Charities
Tickets £10-12 on the door
 

• Wednesday 1st December 2010

5pm - 7pm 

Awareness Raising, Live Performances and Information Sharing

at Harris Library, Preston

at 7:00pm Light refreshments, then at 7.30pm candlelit procession from the Harris Library to St Johns Minster Church

at 7.45pm in St Johns Minster Church, a multi faith service of remembrance and celebration
Finishing at 8.30pm
 

• Ending with a closing party at The Hangout Bar (behind The Bears Paw pub on Church St).
   

More information

on these events or how you, or your organisation can support World AIDS Day 2010, please email or phone Peter Channon, Lancashire HIV Services Coordinator, 01772 253 732

The HIV Service for Central Lancashire is: CLASS - helpline 01772 825 684

Blackburn Cathedral Vigil

posted: 24/11/2010

A candlelit HIV vigil at Blackburn Cathedral is one of the events in East Lancashire organised for World AIDS Day. The cathedral vigil will be on Thursday December 2nd 2010 at 7.15pm. The service is to be led by Canon Andrew Hindley. There will be speakers from Thrivine and music from the Cathedral Choir and Blackburn People’s choir.
 

Buffet and exhibitions in the Crypt

After the service wine and a light buffet will be served downstairs in the Crypt Cafe where you will also have the opportunity to view the exhibition of The Positive Picture, the results of a project funded by the NHS Dragon’s Apprentice. Painted lanterns and art works by local youth groups will also be on display.

Thrivine awards success
This year the East Lancashire HIV charity Thrivine was nominated for a CVS Community Award, and has recently won the Gilead “Putting patients 1st” Award for England and Northern Ireland, for 'Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence, thereby making a significant contribution to the lives of people living with HIV.'
 

Thrivine are very proud of their achievements so soon after their founding and welcome people to attend the vigil and help put an end to HIV related stigma.

More information
email Thrivine