342 are living with the virus in Ulster. Miriam Karp, of the North and West Belfast Trust, called on health workers to concentrate on the growing threat from HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections: “No-one should be complacent about the real dangers they present.”
EU Year for Disabled People
Actor Ricky Gervaise, star of BBC TV comedy ‘The Office’, appeared in a hard-hitting cinema ad campaign over the Christmas break aimed at tackling disability prejudice in the workplace. The campaign is the brainchild of jobability.com, the UK’s leading employment site for disabled jobseekers. 2003 has now been designated the European Union’s official Year for People with Disabilities.
UKC success in the community
The UKC (UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and Aids), publishers of Positive Nation, raised over £9,000 at the First Annual Red Ribbon Ball, held at Crash in association with the Regal Court of the Knights of Soho, and various bucket collections in London clubland over the World Aids Day weekend. UKC chief executive Stephen Bitti said: “We are really happy to be raising money for people with HIV and also raising awareness in the community. We are overwhelmed by the commitment and support we are receiving from individuals and businesses.”