London Pride a great successThe Pride Parade through central London on 26 July was a great success. Led by openly gay policemen, over 15,000 happy people made their way from Embankment to Hyde Park, via Westminster and Piccadilly. HIV charities were strongly represented, including the UKC and the Regal Court of the Knights of Soho (see Gazette page 57). However the festival was dubbed ‘Puddle in the Park’ as the rains descended by mid afternoon. Despite this, over 50,000 attended and nearly all seemed to enjoy the experience. Pictured is one of the colourful dancing troupes on the Parade wending their way up Whitehall. |
Home Secretary David Blunkett lost an important case in the High Court last month when three asylum seekers won the right to claim state benefits for food and housing.
Mr Justice Maurice Kay ruled that refusing to offer state aid while the asylum seekers slept rough and were forced to beg amounted to a breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The judge said the way the three asylum seekers (a Somalian, an Ethiopian and a Malaysian) had been treated amounted to “inhumane and degrading” treatment.
Human rights campaigners welcomed the ruling, saying it would put an end to persons fleeing persecution being deprived the basics of life while their asylum applications are being processed.
Lawyers for the three condemned their treatment as “a mockery of human rights.”
But the Home Office confirmed that they would appeal against the ruling in the Court of Appeal.
The cases brought by the asylum seekers challenged the 2002 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act, under which new regulations were introduced preventing people claiming state benefits if they did not immediately apply for asylum on arrival here.
Ron Mowbray RIP
He undertook the role with particular determination and strength, even through some very difficult personal times.Ron’s background wasn’t in chairing meetings or committee agendas, but he took on the role with an unprecedented level of passion and commitment. He used his position at GHT to make key contacts and links with new funders, celebrity backers, members of parliament and decision-makers. Ron was always enthusiastic about speaking to others about living with HIV. He gave talks to schools, public meetings, awareness courses and it was always a personal approach, about the reality of living with the virus and a really passionate commitment to others. We remember Ron in many different ways. He was someone who gave generously and voluntarily of his time to help other people when he himself was very ill. When treatments gave him only limited time to be fully active he prioritised crucial meetings over other less important issues. Ron was also one of the shortlisted finalists for this year’s UKC Hero Awards this January. He was described as a “towering figure on the Manchester HIV scene...The most wonderful combination of compassion, leadership and canny business sense.” Ron, we’ll all miss you. You were a real hero for all people living with HIV. We remember Ron as the heart and soul of the party. |
The UK’s immigration and asylum policies are making the health of people living with HIV and Aids much worse, according to a new parliamentary report.
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Aids (APPG-Aids) said the use of detention centres and dispersal policies harmed the health of those with HIV and increased the risk of transmission of the virus.
The report, entitled ‘Migration and HIV - Improving Lives in Britain’, concluded that asylum seekers and immigrants should not be compulsorily tested for HIV.
The increasing number of Africans with HIV in Britain, estimated now to be over 10,000, has aroused great government concern as well as scare stories in the media.
The report said that the complexity of UK immigration law makes it difficult for immigrants to obtain benefits and services.
Immigrants have been accused of being ‘health tourists’ and draconian measures by government severely affect the physical and mental health of individuals.
The asylum dispersal system, often carried out with little notification regardless of health, disrupts doctors already treating patients and also becomes a burden to clinicians in the area to which the immigrants are dispersed.
If a person’s immigration status is unclear, he or she may not be entitled to free NHS treatment. Denial of treatment is inhumane, degrading and could pose a serious health danger, the parliamentarians warned.
Dangers could be faced if people with HIV are not treated in time, and doctors have to determine whom to treat and at what stage.
Justine Sserwada, from Positively Women, highlighted the crucial role played by community networks and voluntary organisations.
Edith Kaggwa, women/black and ethnic minorities adult guidance worker at the UKC, spoke about work-related problems faced by immigrants ranging from work permit delays, transfer of qualifications and skills as well as disclosing status.
The report said that the government should extend the Disability and Discrimination Act to cover HIV from the point of diagnosis.
“The sooner individuals are able to get back to work, the quicker they are able to rebuild their physical and mental well-being,” said Julian Hows of Strutton Housing Association. Accessing housing is a major problem for individual immigrants, he said.
Neil Gerrard MP, chairman of APPG-Aids, said: “We are concerned that the government is looking for ways to exclude vulnerable individuals on the basis of poor health at a time when we are facing the most challenging pandemic the world has ever seen.” James Ayebale
Copies of the report are available at www.appg-aids.org.uk
THT ‘moderniser’ moves on to NHSThe London Aids mafia was out in force on 1 August for the leaving ‘do’ of Terrence Higgins Trust director of operations Andrew Ridley. Andrew has left THT after five years, where he was central to the merger of the organisation with London Lighthouse and several other HIV charities around the country as well as introducing THT Direct and the Living Well with HIV service. He moves on to act as ‘moderniser’ with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust. Andrew commented, with perhaps just a little irony: “My only regret is that I wasn’t able to merge more and merge faster!” |
ActionZone, the youth network of ActionAid, has launched an amusing campaign with a powerful message aimed at boosting funding for the war against Aids.
A pack of cards, reminiscent of the set handed out to US soldiers in the recent Iraq war, shows pictures of politicians and organisations who have helped in the battle against the epidemic and highlighted those who haven’t. Baddies include George Bush, Tony Blair and the pharmaceutical industry, while goodies include Nelson Mandela, trade unions and charities promoting HIV awareness and backing for the Global Fund.
The cards will be handed out at the Reading Music Festival on August Bank Holiday weekend. For details, visit: www.actionzone.cc
Ron Mowbray, the first openly HIV positive Chair of George House Trust, died on 25 June after over 15 years of living with HIV, writes the GHT’s deputy CEO Tim Pickstone.