In the last edition of Positive Nation we reported that the Bethany Trust centre in Bodwin, Cornwall has been forced to close down because of a lack of funds. But another centre, the House, an HIV centre in Enfield North London, has also been forced to close its doors because of removal of funding by the local primary care trust. Other HIV support centres across the UK remain under threat and sources cite the high cost of antiretroviral drugs as the reason for the cutbacks.
This year’s Embrace Community Fund awards will make £25,000 available to African and refugee organisations. The awards, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, are aimed at supporting projects to raise awareness about HIV and increase access to testing and support services among African communities in the UK. The closing date for applications is 31 March 2004 and for an application pack or further details, email: uk.embrace@gsk.com
The number of new HIV cases among black Caribbeans in the UK increased by 300 per cent between 1997 and 2001, according to the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections. Between 1997 and 2001, 528 adult black Caribbeans were diagnosed with HIV in the UK, the journal said, and gonorrhoea rates are 13 times higher among the black population of West Indian descent in Britain than the white population. Most of the new HIV infections in the group were among heterosexuals (60 per cent) but gay sex accounted for 32 per cent of new cases.
New legislation to support the estimated six million carers of sick and disabled people stands a good chance of becoming law after it came second in a ballot of MP’s private members’ bills. Dr Hwyel Francis, MP for Aberavon and sponsor of the bill, said: “I know the very real pressures on carers in providing support to their elderly, sick and disabled relatives.” Among those who could benefit from the legislation are the thousands of unsung heroes and heroines who support people living with HIV and Aids.
HIV cases reached an all-time high last year in Scotland, with 259 people diagnosed. Lothian had more new cases than any other area, according to the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH), and the majority of new infections were among gay and bisexual men. A shocking report by Edinburgh Council, the local police and NHS Lothian has found that there has been a sharp rise of heroin users injecting and sharing needles in the city. New figures show that the number of people injecting heroin had doubled over five years and the number of drug users sharing needles had more than trebled.
UK charities may be missing out on as much as £400 million a year because people are not claiming on tax relief. A study by Direct Debit says that charities can reclaim 28p for every pound given to them but spontaneous donations and street collections miss out on this. More than half of the £3.2 billion a year given to charities by people in the UK each year is from people who do not sign up to tax breaks; tax breaks can be utilised through payroll giving and Gift Aid. Top charity givers in Britain are Londoners, who give about £110 a year each (in the West Midlands the average is £34). The study also found that men gave an average of £94 a year to charity in the UK, £20 more than women.
Hard-up teenagers are using clingfilm and crisp packets as condoms because they cannot afford the real thing, according to the Family Planning Association (FPA). Consultant Peter Greenhouse said: “These young people are so poverty-stricken they cannot even afford the bus fare to get into town so how can they afford condoms?” The FPA is calling for more government money for free condoms and for them to be made freely available in doctors’ surgeries. A pack of 12 Durex Extra Safe condoms costs £5.99 at Tesco’s.
