compiled by Bruce Wainwright and Martin Flynn
Pensions breakthrough
The Government has promised to revise the Civil Partnership bill to allow
registered partners to pass on pension benefits to a survivor. Some pension
schemes already offer pensions to gay couples and under the new Act, pension
funds will be required to provide pensions based on contributions made since
1988.
Positive Catholics meet up
Denial and fear, as well as a confusion and inconsistency in Roman Catholic
teaching, is acting against a welcoming pastoral ministry with those living
with HIV and Aids, according to a report entitled ‘Positive Catholics’.
The group which produced the report Catholics for AIDS Prevention & Support
will now hold regular meetings. Contact caps@btinternet.com
Zimbabweans ‘poorly served’
According to a letter published in October’s British Medical Journal,
Zimbabweans,
the second largest group of asylum seekers coming to the UK, don’t get
the best from the NHS. They present late, are often highly mobile - partly
thanks to the Government’s dispersal policy - and HIV and tuberculosis
co-infection is a major concern.
Record levels of HIV in Scotland
The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health reports the highest
quarterly total of HIV infections on record. From July to September this year,
105 people were found to have the virus. This follows introduction of an opt-out
approach to HIV testing at GUM clinics and the testing of all pregnant women
at antenatal clinics.
Syphilis outbreak in N Ireland
“In Northern Ireland, sexual health is generally regarded as poor, with
high levels of teenage pregnancy and STIs. The figures for syphilis, for example,
are of outbreak proportions,” claimed Ulster’s Chief Medical Officer,
Dr Henrietta Campbell, at a Belfast conference.
Africans getting involved
Africans living with HIV in the UK have set up a new group to make their voice
heard at all levels on key issues affecting the community.
Africans Getting Involved has launched an action plan to stimulate activism
around criminalisation of HIV, deportations, compulsory HIV test for immigrants
and access to treatment.
Contact: Edith Kaggwa
on 020 7564 2180
HIV treatments in London cost extra £15 million each year
HIV treatment costs in London are increasing by over £15 million each
year, with lifetime NHS treatment costs in London increasing by over £500
million each year, according to the North West London strategic health authority.
It is estimated that there are currently 30,000 people living with HIV in
London.
Fewer STIs among sex workers
STIs are declining among
foreign sex workers in Britain, according to new research. A report said:
“A major restructuring of the sex industry, including the shift to a
primarily migrant workforce, has been associated with a steep decline in acute
STI, undermining popular assumptions that migrant
sex workers are central to
the ongoing STI epidemic.”
Infections in drug users increase
Serious infections such as HIV and hepatitis C are increasing amongst injecting
drug users in the UK, according to the Health Protection Agency. The agency
also reports an increase in MRSA blood poisoning, although laboratory tests
show that these cases are not to be associated with the hospital super-bug.
Africans HIV prevention cut
The Department of Health (DH) has cut funding for African HIV prevention in
the UK by 10 per cent. Winnie Ssanyu-Sseruma, of the African HIV Policy network
(AHPN), said that several African HIV agencies across the country will now
face funding cutbacks.
