Voice of a Positive Person - Lessons from experience
I caught the HIV virus when I was using heroin and sharing needles - it has totally ruined my life. Heroin can totally ruin your life even for those who appear to have a trouble free life and never end up in jail. My message is simple - do not use drugs it can lead you into shoplifting, then you break into houses, even robbery, you will do just about anything to get money to meet the cost of your habit and you may spend loads of time in jail.
When I caught the HIV virus, I could not believe it, I kept thinking I was going to die. Then I had a complete mental breakdown, as I was so proud I would not ask for help. Your whole outlook in life changes, you do more bad things like robbery or serious assault or even try to extort money out of people. Although I have never done that, you see it on the news in the papers, and you get a hefty jail sentence, and then you lose all self-respect for yourself and everyone turns against you and you want to kill yourself. Me personally I have tried to kill myself four or five times because of the mental problems HIV brings with it. When I first got diagnosed, I thought I would be dead in three months as that was the story that was on the news. I lost my kids, my wife, who I dearly love even today.
I have had the virus for 21 years and am currently on treatment. I can say that you should never give up as there is treatment today that can prolong life for a very long time. So even in your darkest moments please have a little hope because researchers and doctors are making great strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Try and get off drugs if you are taking them because needle sharing was how I caught the virus, it's not easy but will be a big turn in your life.
If you are HIV positive, you have a responsibility for your sexual encounters. Always use condoms and try to be as truthful and as honest with your partner whether you have HIV or not. Use clean needles and don't share with anyone.
Author
Anonymous
Diazepam Drug Alert
Information has been received from a Drug and Alcohol Action Team to inform us all that a white tablet has recently been analysed by their biochemists, which is being sold as a 10mg Diazepam tablet. The tablet contains 40mg of Diazepam and not 10mg. This tablet is white and scored on the other side. Please be vigilant.
Brownlee Centre - Photographic Calendar Competition 2007
In 2006, the Brownlee Centre World Aids Day Committee launched a photography competition to compile a calendar; the launch of which coincided with World Aids Day on the 1st December. The purpose of the calendar was not to raise money, but to raise awareness of issues surrounding HIV in this country and abroad.
The competition was so successful it has been decided to repeat the project in 2007. Twelve photographs will be chosen for the calendar, with a £100 prize for the photograph chosen for the front cover.
Competition rules:
- the competition is open to amateur photographers only. All photographs entered must have been taken by the person entering the competition.
- entrants may submit any number of entries. All are non-returnable.
- photographic entries should be submitted as unmounted 8" x 6" prints. They may be black and white, or colour, produced from negatives, transparencies, or digital files. Entries are eligible only when accompanied by a fully completed entry form, along with the original negative, transparency, or a CD containing the corresponding electronic file.
- all entries must be submitted by Friday 7th September 2007.
- the competition will be judged by a mix of photography professionals and specialists involved in the support and advocacy of people living with HIV and AIDS.
Completed forms and entries should be sent to:
Katie Hamilton
Occupational Therapist
Brownlee Centre
Gartnavel General Hospital
1053 Great Western Road
Glasgow G12 0YN
Tel: 0141 211 1065
You can obtain an application form direct from Katie Hamilton, or by phoning us on 0141 445 8797.
The BBC National HIV Awareness Campaign
The BBC is working on a national HIV awareness campaign, which will lead up to World Aids Day. All the BBC is involved - Stephen Fry is doing a programme, some of the TV shows will be launching HIV storylines, and local radio is getting involved too. But most of the campaign is going to be aimed at and involving young people aged 15-25 (ish).
There will be a website, and the content producer says:
“Most of the campaign will be internet based and it will be a mechanic that means youngsters on the site can learn about HIV and safe sex and are then responsible for protecting their mates. However as part of this site we would like to have real life anonymous interviews with youngsters who are HIV positive or who have direct contact with the disease. It would only be their voice online and nothing about them eg. we could make up a name, etc.”
We have been asked if there are any young people who are willing to take part. If you're interested, contact us and we can forward your contact details on to the content producer who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Kinship Care Petition
There is a large number of relatives bringing up children belonging to their families, for example aunts bringing up their sister's children. Adfam UK and Grandparents As Parents are campaigning on this issue and have a petition on Downing Street website. The petition calls for kinship carers to get the same weekly allowance as foster carers, and for this to apply consistently throughout the UK. Please sign the petition and make the voice of kinship carers heard.
Hamilton/East Kilbride District Carers Forum
It is important that the forum continues to grow in numbers and take forward issues and concerns raised by carers. If you would like to attend future meetings and/or send a representative from your organisation please contact the forum for more information on 01698 428090, or write to us at:
Hamilton/East Kilbride Carers Forum
c/o Princess Royal Trust Lanarkshire Carers Centre
46 Campbell Street
Hamilton
Cambuslang And Rutherglen Mental Health Issues Group
A group of local service users and carers who wish to address the many issues that affect us while working together with any agency that will help improve mental health services for all. The new group which meets every last Monday of the month at 2.00pm in the Cambuslang Institute, Greenlees Road, Cambuslang. For more information call 01698 265232
Eighth Annual Carers Rights Day - Friday 7 December 2007
This year's theme is Caring Costs. The focus is on carers, work, and the other costs of caring. Concentrating on carers' rights which help them stay in work and, if they give up work or retire early, how to ensure they get the right benefits and entitlements.
South Lanarkshire Carers Network Limited
The carers meeting takes place on the first Wednesday of each month. All meetings are held in the network offices at 29 Clydesdale Street, Hamilton, ML3 0DD.
Support the Network and go along to the next meeting. Call 01698 285163 for more information.
Glasgow's Evening Visitor Transport Service - Hospital Visiting Made Easier (update)
The Glasgow Evening Visitor Transport Service we previously informed you of has proved to be popular with patients, carers, and visitors to the hospitals noted below. As a result, Strathclyde Passanger Transport has agreed to extend thier call centre opening hours to 1.00pm to 4.00pm (Monday to Thursday) and 1.00pm till 3.30pm (Friday). Booking Hotline: 0845 128 4027.
If you live in Glasgow City you can access this door-to-door service to the following hospitals:
Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Western Infirmary, Gartnavel General, Victoria Infirmary, Stobhill Hospital and Southern General Hospital.
The service operates between 6pm - 10pm Monday to Friday.
Website design and maintenance: stc-webdesigns.co.uk