Big ‘thank you’ to you for the information you gave me since I
last wrote (see ‘A
Cry for Help’, letters, September). I went to
see one of the solicitors at Duncan Lewis and Co (PN
92/93 and PN
94, Know Your
Rights, HIV and the law). and they decided to take up my case. Things are not
as bad
as I was made to believe by my previous lawyers who were just milking me for
every penny I had. I did not even realise that I was entitled to legal help.
I cannot thank you enough and I hope to clean up my life.
Sincerely, Charlene, London NW5
In the last few months there have been several letters regarding your personal ad section. Can it work? Perhaps we have just been lucky but in truth I think that it can. Knowing that it has worked for several readers has impelled us to write and say a big thank you not just being an excellent and informative magazine but for the fact that after I put an ad in earlier this year, it has worked for me too.
Both Naome and I are looking forward not just to marriage but the possibility of starting a family too. The future is so bright for us and it is all down to you.
If there is anyone out there thinking about either replying or putting an
ad in, then go for it.
Ian & Naome, East Ham, London, E6 6AH
Dear Editor, I found ‘The Benefits Trap’ article in Positive Nation (PN 95) very misleading. I have been on benefits now for six years and got my benefits under a DS 1500 Report (Special Rules fast-track disability living allowance, granted when a patient’s consultant warranted that the patient’s life span was very short - rarely requested these days by people with HIV). DS 1500 Reports are not given out so much now, and I have even heard of claimants being refused Disability Living Allowance under a DS 1500 Report!
I wanted to return back to work about two years back and again, more recently,
but was still strongly advised against it due to the benefits trap. I have
even applied for a grant from the Social Fund earlier this year and was refused,
even though I did get them to review it again. I would really like to return
back to work but moneywise would be a lot worse off.
I find the comments made by Kevin Greenan (PN 95 Letters ‘Africa exporting its sick is sick’) in your October issue very unhelpful. Even though Kevin Greenan doesn’t want to appear as a racist, everything in his letter shows that he sees nothing good coming out of Africa; except more problems for the ‘poor’ people of Britain to cope with.
As an African I feel offended by this article. I think Mr Greenan needs to read a bit more history and understand very basic facts: When people are struck by poverty and lack of hope, they will seek a better life elsewhere, by any means necessary. Africans who are seeking a better future for themselves and their children abroad do not need an authorisation from their respective governments; THEY WILL SIMPLY VOTE WITH THEIR FEET! And some will make it to the shores of rich Europe...
After ‘exporting’ millions of slaves to the rich world, Africa now exports, at incredibly cheap prices, its coffee, its diamonds, its rubber, its tea and cocoa to rich nations. More importantly Africa continues to ‘export’ hardworking nurses, teachers and thousands of people to clean the London underground and work in English old people’s homes. Despite our important contributions to labour and the multiculturalism that London enjoys, we still get little recognition and much blame for all sorts of ills (and illnesses).
I urge Mr Greenan to rethink his statements and recognise that if he is enjoying
the best out of Africa, he (or his grandchildren’s generation) will have
to share our burdens. There is simply no choice!
Sheikh T, Peckham, London
While I have every sympathy for asylum seekers and immigrants with HIV/Aids, as highlighted in the September issue of PN (PN 94), I felt that insufficient coverage was provided on the reasons for government concern.
You reported an estimated 10,000 Africans with HIV in Britain and an average annual treatment cost of £15,000 for people with HIV. On this basis Africans account for £150 million of the total HIV treatment expenditure of £345 million. The real cost is likely to be much higher since late diagnosis (more common among Africans) significantly increases hospital admissions and extra treatment for secondary opportunistic infections. Welfare benefits push total costs even higher.
In effect the state is spending millions of pounds on treatment of people who have contributed nothing to the tax base which funds it. It is not surprising that the government finds this very hard to justify politically, especially in view of major public anxiety over Health Service funding and waiting lists and the fact that most asylum seekers travel through several other countries - each of them perfectly safe where asylum could be sought - before reaching Britain.
Globally millions of people now have HIV. In principle, should all of them
be entitled to free treatment if they arrive in this country?
Tony, London SW
I just got the recent issue of Positive Nation, and have to say congratulations on your 10th Birthday (PN 96). It’s a year this issue that I started getting PN, so will have to remember to renew my subscription! I find the magazine very useful, and also find it lighthearted in some areas, which I enjoy a lot. After all, there are so many things in life to worry about, like missing Will and Grace, rather than reading only about doom and gloom.
Speaking of birthdays, Staffordshire Buddies is celebrating its 10th year
this November as well. Well that’s about it really... just wanted to
say well done on ten years, and here’s to another ten. If there’s
any birthday cake left, you know where to send it!
Love Colin, www.positive-negative.org
