HIV/AIDS & hospital stays

When was the last time you stayed at a hospital? Did you have a good or bad experience? In the current issue of the living+ magazine, there is an article on how to make your hospital stay a more pleasant one. This involves knowing what to expect, what to bring with you when going to the hospital and knowing how to advocate for your rights. Let us know your experiences and what questions you may have about hospital stays.

Smoking Room at BCPWA

Did you know that the smoking room at British Columbia Persons With AIDS Society lounge may close on March 31, 2008? A new regulation in the BC Provincial Tobacco Sales Act may force BCPWA to close the smoking room. At the Society’s Annual General Meeting a few years ago, the majority of the membership voted in favour of keeping the smoking room, so the Board of Directors has written a letter to the Ministry asking for an exemption to this new regulation. We will have to see how the government responds. There are statistics that show that 60-80% of persons living with HIV smoke, which is significantly higher than the general population at 20-30%. There are pros and cons to closing the smoking room. What do you think about this? Do you think the smoking room should close? What do you think the smoking room should be used for?

BCPWA Complementary Health Fund

Are you using the BCPWA complementary health fund (CHF)? It’s a unique service for people living with HIV/AIDS in Canada. What complementary health products have helped you address your HIV or AIDS symptoms or related conditions? In the new issue of living+ magazine, our society Chair has written an editorial about the complementary health fund and the fact that it hasn’t been used to its full capacity by eligible HIV-positive members of the Society. There are many medications and services that are not covered by private and public insurance plans, so the Society’s complementary health fund subsidizes things such as traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, massage and even gym memberships. As we all know, there are numerous side effects associated with HIV medications, so complementary and alternative medicine can benefit. Are you taking advantage of the complementary health fund? What do you use it for? Do you know how to access it? Share your experiences and thoughts with us on this blog

Treatment Access Denied?

Would you like to learn more about how government policies and systems affect your access to drugs and other therapies? Do you want to better understand government cost containment strategies, and if they put your health at risk? Do you think BC should cover the cost of treatments for facial lipoatrophy for those who can’t afford it? There’s a workshop and panel discussion on treatment access issues in BC for persons with HIV/AIDS on February 7th at the Best Western Chateau Granville (in Vancouver) starting at 9:30 am. It’s free to attend and is hosted by the Canadian Treatment Action Council along with several other community groups. Let us know what your concerns are about healthcare in BC

Bacteria Strain Hits Gay Men

Have you heard about the new bacteria strain affecting gay men? Last week, researchers in San Francisco and Boston reported upon a new highly drug-resistant strain of flesh-eating MRSA bacteria spreading among gay men. The bacteria is easily shared through anal intercourse, and can also be spread through casual skin-to-skin contact and touching contaminated surfaces. The infections can cause skin ulcers and abscesses, and are difficult to treat because the bacteria is resistant to many of the antibiotics used to treat earlier strains. If you notice anything unusual with how you are feeling or with your skin, you should check with your doctor. Let us know if you have any questions about this new bacteria.

International AIDS Conference

This year the International AIDS Conference will take place in Mexico City in early August. You can click www.aids2008.org for more information. Have you ever attended such a conference? There is usually lots of information that comes out of this event on new drug developments, clinical research, and international issues. In 2006, over 25, 000 people attended the International AIDS Conference in Toronto. If you attended past conferences please share your experiences with other blog readers.
On January 24, the treatment information program will provide information about the 2008 International AIDS Conference, how to apply for a subsidy to get there, and how to submit a workshop proposal. The information sessions starts at noon at BCPWA and everyone is welcome to attend.

Stigma and Discrimination

Welcome to 2008. In the last blog posting we asked for your ideas. Someone discussed whether your mind can control HIV. What about those people who have been HIV-positive for a long time, and don’t take HIV medications? How do they stay healthy? How do they handle stigma and discrimination? Do they tell others about their HIV status or live in secrecy? Although we are into a New Year, there are unfortunately some things that haven’t changed, such as the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV. What are we going to do about it?