We are able to do well

[Guest guest]

Dear PLHIV's

Re: /message/11524

Great significance is to be read on and between the lines of this

statement.

We are now well past the 20th year of HIV knowledge and understanding of HIV and

it is not nearly as fearsome as was once thought. We should have it in the same

illness class as diabetes.

Both diseases can kill without a proper care plan and appropriate medications,

well understood and applied, otherwise they are both chronic manageable

illnesses.

The disease process must be seen as life long but result in long life as well.

Sex is still an option though it must be perfected to protect the infected and

non infected partners. Child birth is still posible though there is much to

learn depending on the status of both partners.

Marriage is still possible if that is important culturally but honesty

between partners is essential and up to date knowledge

is imperative.

Work is important and where possible it should be available. If the disease has

taken its toll then income support is necessary until health improves.

Discrimination in the workplace, housing, school or work place should be illegal

with sanctions to those who remain fearful and ignorant.

There is nothing like a fine or penalty to create awareness for change and

information upgrade.

Also required is reliable supplies of HAART and the nutritional and

hydration knowledge to ensure it works.

Family support is crucial and far less traumatic than a funeral.

Having a reason to get up in the morning such as work or other useful

activity leads to contentment.

Any organisation providing services or support programs to PLWHA's need to have

at least half of their Board members as PLWHA's or they will have no idea of the

issues or how they play out on a day to day basis.

I remember seeking funds to allow some PLWHA's who were getting

compassionate access to HAART and who were doing well to try to get some funding

for return to work initiatives.

The Indian Express were ready to give publicity to the funding but Central

Government were unwilling to fund because they said the PLWHA's were going to

die and it would be a waste of government revenue.

I reminded him, and it was a him, that we are all going

to die sometime but right now we and they were living and would be better able

to continue doing so if they could work.

The end of this ironic story is that the Officer who refused the application was

killed in a traffic accident some time later and all the PLWHA's were still

alive and well.

Nice to be back writing on the list again after a long absence. It must be

because the list editor has found my current email address.

Geoffrey

--

Geoff Heaviside

Convenor - Brimbank Community Initiatives Inc

Convenor - Brimbank International Student Support Services

Secretary - International Centre for Health Equity Inc

Member - Australasian Society for HIV Medicine Inc

P.O. Box 2400 s Lakes 3038

Melbourne . Australia.

Ph: +61 418 328 278

Ph/Fax : (61 3) 9449 1856

Ph: India : 9840 097 178

Ph: Nepal : 9849 174 329

e-mail: <geofheav@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear members,

So many time we are talking about the People Living with HIV/AIDS. We always say

that our life is short and fully depend on medicine. It is true that our life is

god gift.

We are only talking about awareness, stigma & discrimination in any field like

medical services, family, society working places etc

Besides that if any plhiv working place and any positive working centre, we do

not gave him priority.

Lot of unemployed intelligent positive people enrolled in our registration

centre but we don't encourage him. We don't give them a chance because he/she is

positive and not able to done well and we gave chance a negative person.

Negative person is not a issue but issue is that we have a unemployed

intelligent positive people, why we don't give him chance to grow up and build

our community.

I don't know what I m saying but you understood my thinking & feelings after all

Its is a request to all project agencies, if they run any project on PLHIV then

don't avoid the PLHIV. Give them a chance to move.

Give me some sunshine give me some rain

Give me another chance to grow up once again

OUR LIVES IS NOT FOR TRADE

Bye

PLHIV_Groups

e-mail: tnnpplus@...

[Guest guest]

/message/11756

For what it is worth it has been my suggestion that unless and until NACO

comprises more than 50% of PLWHA's in its membership with a spread of

representation across the States and with remuneration that covers the costs of

that commitment, which must include more than just the housing component, then

only the most effective outcomes will follow.

This revised constitutional component must also included capacity to report

directly in an advisory capacity to the Minister of Health with a mechanism to

ensure that S.A.A.C.S. are accountable to the infected and affected communities

under their supervision.

I might add here that as well as treatment where necessary for those already

infected a much more intensive effort needs to be made to educate the latest

batches of post pubescent youth, many of whom were babies when AIDS awareness

campaigns were first implemented.

The purpose of this is to avoid increasing the numbers of sexually active

Indians joining the ranks of those infected.

Costs of treatment are increasing but the numbers keep increasing and the

funding for delivering adequate health care will diminish in time. The virus is

easily able to be avoided.

Sexual health skills are overdue. The ages of those affected range from 8 to 48

so much more age appropriate education will need to be devised and delivered

despite so called cultural and religious indifference. These messages must

include the input of the able

PLWHA's and their supporters.

Slowly stigma will change once PLWHA's have names and faces. Discrimination

should be illegal and punishable by fines, de-registration and licence

revocations because it is amazing how sensitive the hip pocket nerve is to

attitudes of financial culpability.

Such anti discrimination legislation should include areas like housing, health

care, transportation, education, and employment.

Responsible PLWHA's don't need to be nursed or favoured. Many are well

educated and capable as Nan pointed out.

Attitudes that don't allow PLWHA's to be trained and accredited need to be

challenged and anti discrimination legislation should ensure this doesn't

continue to happen. With the advent of accurate rapid testing the prior emphasis

on adequate pre and post test counselling should be mandated.

Thank you Nan for raising the questions.

Geoffrey

--

Geoff Heaviside

Ph: India : 9840 097 178

Ph: Nepal : 9849 174 329

e-mail: <geofheav@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum and (I am assuming Tamilnadu positive people),

I have been for a while hoping that they help us, positive people by giving us

jobs we can do, and thus earn a living and not be dependant for handouts.

This can only be done if your organization is vocal about first giving jobs to

HIV+ people, and then opening it up to others.

I am sending a copy to SAATHII, the organization which can guide you as to what

procedures need to be followed. they have centres in Bengaluru, Chennai and West

Bengal. It will be easier if you could visit their organizations as to what

procedures they follow to offer work to PLWA/ HIV+ people.

Thanks for your letter and complaint,

Being vocal is the best way ahead,

Sincerely yours,

Priyadarshi Datta, PLWA.

e-mail: <pdatta@...>