Laws Should Not Worsen HIV

posted: 02/07/2010

The ‘Vienna Declaration’  sounds like a half-forgotten piece of school history, but it is brand new and all about ending laws and policy across the world that cause HIV harm. The UN has at the same time set up a brand new Global Commission on HIV and the Law  to deal with some of the toughest issues in HIV. Laws and policies across the world are making the HIV epidemic worse and causing harm to many people. Anti-gay, anti-sex-worker, anti-drug, anti-HIV sex and transmission laws and policies are all the UN Commission’s new battle-ground.
 

If you agree that the law should not criminalise drug users because this makes the HIV epidemic far worse and causes more harm than good, you are invited to sign the Vienna Declaration. The Vienna Declaration is a call from the international scientific community to countries across the world (including the UK) to face the facts and recognise that the so-called 'War on Drugs' isn't working, and causes far more harm than good, particularly in the fight against HIV.

It asks the UN and countries to update drug policy and laws to end this HIV harm, discrimination against people's human rights, and to remove the legal and other barriers to effective HIV prevention, treatment and care.
You can read and sign the Vienna Declaration here  and facebook and twitter it from there
 

Why is the Declaration from Vienna? Well, the International AIDS Conference opens in Vienna in Austria later this month.

This conference is the largest HIV conference, and is held every two years, and is the one where big HIV news on treatments and almost everything else is revealed. 

New - Global Commission on HIV and the Law
The Global Commission on HIV and the Law was set up last month – the secretary general of the UN said “I urge all countries to remove punitive laws, policies and practices that hamper the AIDS response … . Successful AIDS responses do not punish people; they protect them … . We must ensure that AIDS responses are based on evidence, not ideology, and reach those most in need and most affected.”

The Commission has a challenging job – its job is to produce practical steps, based on evidence and that support human rights, that will reduce HIV transmission caused by laws and policies. So it will focus its efforts on ending laws that criminalise HIV transmission and exposure, illicit drug use, sex work, and same sex relationships. Global Commission on HIV and the Law
 

HIV and the Law is part of the Law on Trial  season at Birkbeck College this weekend, and Matthew Weait, a long-time ally of George House Trust and who works at Birkbeck as a senior law lecturer, writes about how the law should not worsen HIV discrimination and stigma, and if laws do this they do not deserve our support.

More Hepatitis C and HIV

posted: 22/06/2010

Hepatitis C in the UK: 2009 report is the latest update on the hep C virus from the Health Protection Agency. Figures from this yearly report show that laboratory reporting of newly diagnosed hepatitis C infections in England increased in 2008 by 6% compared to 2007, with 8,196 new cases reported in 2008.

Hepatitis C is rising among among people living with HIV, particularly gay men. Among gay men living with HIV hep C is sexually transmitted. Hep C has serious health impacts, shortens life expectancy and is harder to treat for people with HIV. Hep C treatment takes at least 6 months and has unpleasant side effects, and the success rate is much better when it is treated at an early stage. The largest number of people with and at risk of hep C howeer are injecting drug users.

Hepatitis C in the UK 2009 report and slide set
More news and information on Hepatits C and gay men living with HIV

1 in 73 Injecting Drug Users have HIV
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has also published 'Shooting up: infections among injecting drug users in the United Kingdom 2008. An update: 2009’.

Key findings of the update include: transmission of HIV and hepatitis C infection through injecting drug use remains higher than in the late 1990s - overall, around two-fifths of injecting drug users are now infected with hepatitis C, and about one in 73 with HIV.
 
 

Our July Sports Day

posted: 21/06/2010

The annual Sports Day of George House Trust is on Saturday 10 July at Longford Stadium, near the Stretford metro/tram stop. Be there by 10.30 to be ready for the 11am start. Help us celebrate George House Trust’s 25th Birthday with our Sports Day, which is for everyone living with or affected by HIV, as well as all supporters and volunteers.

Please invite your Facebook Friends
 

Activities
There will be coaching sessions where you can try new sports and activities, track and field events and some competitive track races. There will also be activities for children.
Come along and take part, or watch and support those taking part. If you are joining in sports activities, please wear appropriate sports clothing and trainers.

 

Food
Please bring your own picnic, or shop locally. Unfortunately the stadium CAFE IS CLOSED
 

More information from email Lynda or by phone 0161 274 5652

Travel
Buses 16, 16A, 22, 23, 23A, 276, 297
Tram / metro to Stretford
map and directions Longford Park Stadium Ryebank Road Chorlton Manchester M21 9TA
 

This sports event is supported by Positively Healthy
Longford stadium image © Copyright R Greenhalgh and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence
 

Find Out About Membership

posted: 14/06/2010

Thursday 1 July is the date for people who use our services and volunteers to find out about becoming more involved in George House Trust. People using services and volunteers are warmly invited to come and find out more on Thursday 1 July from 5.30pm. You could become a Member. Our membership is free.

Finding Out About Membership is on Thursday 1 July

• refreshments and snacks start at 5.30pm
• the talk and your questions begin at 6
• we will finish by 7pm.

George House Trust is a membership organisation. Members are the people who come to our Annual General Meeting and elect our board of trustees. This board then oversees and steers what we do. Members are the people who can also become trustees on the board.
 

Members Vote
Members also vote on any major strategic decisions for the organisation, either at the Annual General Meeting, or at any special meetings that might be called during a year.
 

Whether you are electing trustees or voting on major strategic decisions, being a member gives you the chance to influence what we do.
 

This event is all about telling you more and answering your questions. You will be able to meet existing trustees and members.

Below we explain in more detail what it is all about for those who are really curious or for people who cannot come to the meeting on Thursday 1 July.

Applying to become a member
To become a member you would need to:

• Use George House Trust services (this includes HIV positive people, carers, family) OR
• Be a current volunteer who is actively involved in the organisation AND
• Able to attend the Annual General Meeting, or to vote by post AND
• Support the aims and objectives of George House Trust.

We need people who know enough about us, support our work, are actively interested in our future, and are able and willing to come to the Annual General Meeting (or vote by post).

You can download the membership forms here:

• Membership information
• Application form
   

Two thirds of our members are living with HIV
We work to make sure that two-thirds of our members are people living with HIV.
We want about 100 members, and will pull names from a hat if too many people apply. We want a good balance of members to represent all our service users and volunteers.
 

Summer Members selection
We only appoint new members once a year – you must apply to be a member by Friday 30th July. By 20 August you should have the written answer to your application.
 

If you have any questions on membership please email 
 

HIV Information on Tour

posted: 17/05/2010

UPDATED 20 MAY - LEEDS and NEWCASTLE DATES CORRECTED

HIV and Your Body is the theme for free workshops for people living with HIV. Find out more about HIV and your Heart, Kidneys, Bones, Liver, and Body Shape.

Robert Fieldhouse, the editor of Baseline, is running a series of talks in the North-West, Midlands, West Yorkshire and North East of England.
 

Blackburn        with THRIVINE at Jarman Centre 53 James Street, Blackburn, Lancashire BB1 6BE
contact James 01254 263 525
Saturday 22 May 2pm HIV and your Bones
Tuesday 17 August 6pm Choice of HIV and Your …. Heart, Kidneys, Liver, and Body Shape

Manchester      at Black Health Agency (BHA) 464 Chester Road, Manchester M16 9HE
Monday 5 July                1pm       HIV and your Kidneys
Monday 6 September       1pm       Choice of HIV and Your …. Heart, Bones, Liver, and Body Shape
contact BHA 0845 450 4247

Birmingham         at ABPLus 29-30 Lower Essex Street, Birmingham, B5 6SN 

Tuesday 13 July             7pm       HIV and your Liver
Tuesday 10 August         7pm       Choice of HIV and Your …. Heart, Kidneys, Bones, and Body Shape

Leeds                      at Skyline 4th floor Gallery House, The Headrow, Leeds, LS1

CORRECTED DATES

Thursday 8 JULY              6pm       HIV and your Body Shape
Thursday 5 August          6pm       Choice of HIV and Your …. Heart, Kidneys, Bones, and Liver
 

Newcastle upon Tyne       at Body Positive North East 12 Upper Princess Square, Newcastle, NE1 0191 232 2855
Wednesday 7 JULY       3.30pm         HIV and your Heart

Wednesday 4 AUGUST        3.30pm         Choice of HIV and Your …. Heart, Kidneys, Bones, and Liver
The Leeds and Newcastle dates on the postcard with detilas of this talks tour are incorrect. Robert has told us the corrected dates above.

Further details from the speaker Robert Fieldhouse 07886 159 735 or by email

These talks are all funded by the drugs company Gilead Sciences