Asylum seeker wins victory
An HIV positive asylum seeker has won a high court challenge
to the Home Secretary's refusal to provide milk tokens for her baby daughter.
Sir Edwin Jowitt ruled that David Blunkett had ignored the risk that the
mother could pass the virus onto her baby through breastfeeding. The Court
ordered the Home Secretary to reconsider his decision and refused him
leave to appeal.
6,900 positive people get DLA
The number of people claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA) increased
by more than five per cent last year to 2.32 million. But a Department
for Work and Pensions spokesman told Positive Nation that only 6,900 people
with HIV or Aids are now in receipt of this benefit. Many recently diagnosed
people are reporting to us that it is now virtually impossible to claim
DLA and others living long term with the virus have reported reviews,
reductions and withdrawals of the benefit. For details, visit: www.disability.gov.uk
Crypto scare in Glasgow
Health officials in Glasgow have found high levels of cryptosporidium
in the city's water supply. The parasite is particularly dangerous to
people with poor immune systems where it can lead to severe diarrhoea
and weight loss. Scottish Water is advising the city's residents to boil
all tap water used for drinking, preparing food and brushing teeth. Those
with HIV are advised to be particularly vigilant.
More positive women 'opting for
pregnancy'
The availability and effectiveness of interventions, such as antiretroviral
therapies and elective caesarean section, to prevent mother-to-child transmission
of HIV is probably one reason why more positive women are opting for pregnancy,
according to a new study from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Between June 1989 and June 2002, there were 2,777 pregnancies among HIV
positive women in the UK, and the number of HIV positive babies born in
Britain has steadily declined from over 90 each year prior to 1990 to
none last year.
page 5 of 6
contents
of issue 82
back
issues
the
gazette
recipes
small
ads
contacting
us
weblinks
