Mambo, Health and Africans

posted: 07/03/2011

Mambo 6 is the latest issue of the healthier lifestyle magazine for Africans who are living in the UK. Features in this issue include African and gay  and homophobia in Uganda . There is a look at issues facing HIV positive children  and a new London testing initiative.

Positive Pastor tells Congregation

Pastor Gideon Byamugisha is one of the first African religious leaders talking openly about their HIV positive status, and David Olapoju talks about overcoming tuberculosis.

There is also the latest round up of news from Africa  and you can win a Nokia smartphone  by entering their survey.

Mambo 6 download pdf

HIV Healthcare Training Online

posted: 03/03/2011

HIV and STI doctors and other healthcare staff have an engaging and extensive online learning programme called eHIV-STI. This e-training has been put together by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV and the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians. Keeping HIV clinic staff well trained is an important part of good HIV care.
 

This eHIV-STI training provides the knowledge healthcare professionals need for treating and supporting people with sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and related conditions. It’s designed to be used alongside clinic training.
 

3 knowledge levels

They provide training to three levels of knowledge, from introductory, to more advanced and finally specialist knowledge, so people can learn in stages.
 

The 60 sessions of e-learning with video clips and case studies cover most of what HIV and STI clinic staff need to know. The training is open for doctors and NHS healthcare staff in England who register with the site.
 

HIV & STI e-Learning for Healthcare

End to HIV Health Staff Ban?

posted: 10/02/2011

The much criticised ban on surgeons and dentists with HIV from working could be lifted this year. At long last, the government is acting on HIV campaigners’ calls to end the employment ban.

Department of Health rules stop HIV-positive health workers from carrying out what are called ‘exposure prone procedures’ which are thought to risk HIV and hepatitis transmission. Basically 'exposure-prone procedures' are treatments where the healthcare hand goes inside the patient body, especially when there are sharp things like bones and surgical tools around - like when a dentist is extracting teeth.

But the rules are old and there is very little solid evidence of actual HIV transmissions from health care workers to patients. Despite this, the UK rules mean no dentist with HIV can carry on working as a dentist, and many midwives, surgeons, some nurses and ambulance workers have also had to end or change their careers.

Rules review

The Department of Health has now said there will be a review of the rules. HIV charities have been invited to join the working group that will draw up new guidelines.
 

The British bans on healthcare workers with HIV and hepatitis are stricter than in many European countries and the USA and Australia, where dentists with HIV can work, so there are alternative rules ready to be adapted for Britain.

Evidence gap

With effective HIV treatments there is usually almost no virus in healthcare workers’ blood, so whatever risk there was, is even smaller now, say campaigners. It is extremely unusual for blood-borne viruses to be passed between doctors and patients. Only four patients worldwide are thought to have contracted HIV from health workers. There have been no transmissions from healthcare workers in the UK. And there are significant doubts about the evidence even for these few transmissions. 

Deborah Jack, chief executive of the National Aids Trust, said ‘advances in testing technologies and treatment’ and ‘high levels of infection control’ supported calls for change.

Catherine Murphy, of the Terrence Higgins Trust, added: ‘We’re not saying entirely lift restrictions but it is time for another look – especially for dentists.’ The British Dental Association has backed calls for change.

UK healthcare workers and exposure prone procedures policy

Source

Catholic HIV Guide

posted: 07/02/2011

The Vatican will hold an international conference in May on HIV prevention and care, after all the confusion the Pope caused last year about using condoms for HIV prevention.

The conference findings will help create a guide that the Vatican is preparing on the prevention and care of AIDS patients.

The Vatican's Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers also announced that they are working on a set of guidelines for Catholic doctors, nurses and others who care for people with HIV.

More information 

Catholic bio-ethics guide for healthcare workers
Rome HIV conference
 

New Sexual Health Strategy

posted: 21/01/2011

There will, at last, be a new Sexual Health Strategy for England this year. Public Health Minister, Anne Milton, agreed it is time to replace the HIV and sexual health strategy, which was drawn up in 2001.
 

David Cairns MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV & AIDS, shamed English health ministers into action, by making an unfavourable comparison with Scotland, who have a more recent Sexual Health plan.

The All Party Parliamentary Group, and others, repeatedly pushed the Government for a new English strategy.

Finally at a debate on World AIDS Day in Westminster Hall, the Public Health Minister announced there will be a new strategy for England. Anne Milton confirmed it would be more than just a ‘position paper.’
 

“HIV has changed enormously in the last decade. It is now a long-term health condition, not a death sentence, and there are far more people now living with the virus. We’ve been arguing for a new strategy to reflect those changes and I am very pleased that the Government has decided to draw one up this year,” said David Cairns MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group.
 

Remember this?

The 2001 English strategy aimed to:

• reduce the transmission of HIV and STIs
• reduce the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV and STIs
• reduce unintended pregnancy rates
• improve health and social care for people living with HIV
• reduce the stigma associated with HIV and STIs.

To do this the 2001 English Strategy said about HIV, that it would :

• provide clear information about avoiding STIs, including HIV
• increase HIV testing [testing is up]
• ensure there is a sound evidence base of what works in HIV/STI prevention
• set a target to reduce the number of new HIV infections [this target was hopelessly missed]
• develop managed networks for HIV and sexual health services [we have 3 NW networks]
• set a target to reduce the number with undiagnosed HIV [now at last, but we had to wait until 2011]
• ensure earlier access to HIV treatment [This is still a major problem, England has a high level of late HIV diagnosis]
• set standards for treatment, support and social care of people living with HIV [where are the standards for social care support? but we do have excellent standards for treatment]
• prioritise researching good practice in sexual health and HIV

On other sexual health issues the 2001 plan was to 

• evaluate more integrated sexual health services
• screen for Chlamydia
• stress open access to GUM services and more urgent appointments
• ensure a range of contraceptive services are provided
• address the patchy abortion service
• increase hepatitis B vaccinations
• set standards for treating STIs
• train and develop the sexual health workforce