Wanted - Positive Youth Camp Leaders

posted: 18/03/2010

Are you HIV+? Are you aged 18 - 24 on August 23 2010? Want to help run the first ever UK summer camp for HIV+ young people?

CHIVA (Childrens HIV Association) is recruiting fifteen Camp Leaders to help run the first ever CHIVA Summer Camp for HIV+ children and young people, in the last week of August 2010.

Along with staff and volunteers, Camp Leaders will help to run the Summer Camp. They will offer support to participants, organise events and activities and keep the camp running smoothly.

Training and Expenses Included
All Camp Leaders will need to attend a four day training session from Thursday 10th - Monday 14th June 2010. Alongside fun activities, Camp Leaders will receive accredited training from Youthforce on the 'Essentials of working with young people'. All expenses will be paid.

 

Over 25? - volunteer instead

If you are HIV+ and aged 25 or over in late August, consider becoming a CHIVA camp volunteer instead. Visit the Summer Camp webpage and download volunteering details and an application form - righthand column of web page.
 

Becoming a Camp Leader - apply before 30 April

For more information download the information pack and application form. The application form must be completed and returned by 5pm April 30 2010.

If you know or work with HIV+ young people please print off the advert about becoming a Camp Leader and pass this on to them.

If you would like any more information about being a Camp Leader please email Tom Burke.
 

Treatment Booklet Updated

posted: 18/03/2010

The latest issue of NAM’s booklet, anti-HIV drugs, is just out. It tells you about each of the drugs currently licensed for HIV treatment in the UK.
 

All the booklets in this series are free to people living with HIV in the UK, or can be ordered through the aidsmap online bookshop for £1.

You can read it online, or download the booklet as a pdf.

Colour HIV drugs chart - new edition

The new edition of their full colour HIV drugs chart (February 2010 edition) is also now available to download as a pdf.

Clinics and HIV support groups
If you work in a clinic or support group in the UK, you can order these booklets for free for your clients and patients. Get in touch with Rose for details on 020 7840 0060 or by emailing her.

For the experts - HIV Treatment Directory
The new edition of the HIV Treatments Directory (28th edition) is also now available.
 

A complete reference guide to HIV treatment and medical aspects of HIV, with A to Z listings and an intuitive layout. Comprehensive information, and details of published research covering topics including:
• starting and changing treatment
• A to Z of antiretroviral drugs
• women's health issues
• drug resistance
• drug interactions and pharmacokinetics
• HIV and genetics
• side-effects
• the immune system and HIV
• prevention of mother-to-child transmission
Plus a full-colour drug chart and CD-ROM.
 

To order your copy, please visit NAM's webshop 
 

People's price

It costs professionals a few pence under £65 but people with HIV can buy it for £12.95 – it’s free but this is the cost of special delivery for this large, heavy book.

The Treatments Directory is excellent but has much more information than most people with HIV want. George House Trust has a copy you can use in our reception area.

Condom Adverts on TV

posted: 17/03/2010

Changes to the rules about TV condom advertising 'may help fight HIV' say HIV charities. The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice has just announced that condom advertising will be allowed on TV before the current 9pm adult watershed. Condom adverts will now be allowed at any time, but will not be permitted around programmes aimed at children under ten. Condom adverts will also have to comply with strict rules on taste, decency and socially responsible advertising.

Campaign success

The move was recommended by the government's Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV, which said that advertising the contraceptive method on television would help cut HIV, STIs and unwanted teenage pregnancies.

Deborah Jack, the chief executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust), said: "It is good news that the ban of advertising condoms on television before 9pm has been lifted. Condoms are the most effective way of protecting against HIV transmission when having sex. Over 7,000 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2008 so increasing education about safer sex is important. It makes sense that condom adverts will be allowed to be shown in the early evening at the same time as soaps, such as Hollyoaks, which include storylines about sexual relationships and HIV.”

Carl Burnell, chief executive at GMFA, the gay men’s health charity, added: “This shouldn’t just be about reducing pregnancies. Condom-use is a central sexual health and HIV prevention message and needs to reach those most in need, particularly gay men. In that respect, we welcome the relaxing of the rules. However, commercial adverts promoting brands aren’t enough. Of more importance is making sure men receive the information and support they need to protect themselves and their partners.”

"Prevention is better than cure when dealing with sexually transmitted infections or unplanned pregnancies. Relaxing the watershed is another positive step in getting safe sex messages to the public," said Baroness Gould, chairwoman of the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV.

However the welcome is not universal - the Church of England said it was "especially disappointing to see a relaxation of the rules on targeting condom advertising at under-16s". A spokesman said: "The Church supports the sensitive use of media to offer unbiased and authoritative information to young people, but educational and commercial objectives should not be muddled."

Other changes

Other changes will see tougher action on television adverts which promote violent video games or products which make spurious claims about being environmentally friendly.

This new advertising code - and the earlier condom adverts - will appear on TV screens after September 1st.

Image - blog with 41 creative condom adverts

Source and Source2

Positive Gay Men’s Weekend

posted: 17/03/2010

The next of these popular residential weekends for HIV positive gay men will be in May, in Whaley Bridge. The residential weekend is an opportunity to explore and discuss issues around living with HIV with other men in a safe and comfortable environment.

The weekend is facilitated by Colin Armstead, George House Trust Service and Development Manager, and Alistair Gault, a freelance trainer. A George House Trust counsellor will also be available over the weekend.

You must have been diagnosed HIV positive for longer than 12 months to take part in the weekend.

Transport, meals and accommodation are all provided free of charge with funding from the Elton John Aids Foundation.

When?

Friday May 14th (early evening) to Sunday evening 16th May 2010

What have other men said?

'The weekend has given me a real boost and I feel now like I can face some of my issues in a constructive way and really move forward'

Thanks for a great weekend which has helped me think about how I deal with some of my fears and anxieties about living with HIV'

The weekend gave me a sense of space and safety to be able to talk more confidently about living with HIV now and in the future'

Booking

If you would like to know more about the weekend, or you would like to book a place, please email Colin or call him on 0161 274 4499. The booking form is below.

Booking Form

Positive Women and Sex

posted: 15/03/2010

Many women with HIV experience some sexual problems, US researchers have found.  The researchers asked about 1300 HIV-positive women and 500 HIV-negative women about their sexual function and satisfaction.

Women with HIV are less likely to be satisfied with their sex lives. HIV was also found to be significantly associated with poorer sexual function. Poor health, indicated by a low CD4 cell count, seemed to be associated with lower levels of sexual functioning in women with HIV. The researchers suggest that sexual wellbeing should be monitored in routine HIV care.
 

What can help?

The range of medical solutions for women is more limited than for men – there’s no equivalent to Viagra - although this can help some women.. Hormonal replacement therapy may be appropriate for women after the menopause. Psychological and social causes for sexual problems among women are more common. CBT, counselling, psychotherapy all help with these – ask your HIV clinic and GP.
 

“Our study shows a clear link between HIV infection and sexual problems among women”, comment the investigators. They believe their research has implications for the routine care of women with HIVand therefore they suggest “there is a role for assessment of sexual problems in overall care of women with HIV infection.”
 

HIV & Sex booklet from NAM
 

Positively Women may help. Their helpline, run by women who are living with HIV, it offers good support and referrals to other services. Positively Women helpline 020 7713 0222.
 

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