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Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2001

360�

The Newsletter of
AIDS Calgary Awareness Association

Take a look around you.
We’re all affected.
Share information.
Make healthy choices.

360� is published bi-monthly and distributed to all AIDS Calgary members, volunteers, and community partners and is inserted into Calgary Straight, FFWD and Outlooks magazine. This new format will allow us to reach more people, more often.

Welcome to 360�
Why 360�? Take a look around you. We’re all affected. Share information. Make healthy choices. Please let us know what you think of the changes we’ve made.

Immigrant AIDS Testing

On September 20, 2000, Canadian newspapers reported Health Canada’s recommendation to test all prospective immigrants for HIV.

Elinor Caplan, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, is considering the implemention of mandatory HIV testing for all prospective immigrants to Canada. Caplan would consider excluding all those testing HIV positive from immigrating to Canada on both public health and excessive cost grounds.

Public statements made by government officials around HIV and immigrant testing portray persons living with HIV/AIDS as potential dangers to Canadians. Such sentiments add to the climate of stigma and discrimination that persons living with HIV/AIDS already face in Canada. In addition, they create the misleading impression that HIV/AIDS is a problem that does not concern all Canadians but is an imported problem and one that can be addressed by exclusion rather than by sound prevention efforts and compassion.

The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network (www.aidslaw.ca) has done an extensive review of the legal and ethical issues surrounding testing potential immigrants for HIV. Based on this analysis, AIDS Calgary opposes mandatory HIV testing of prospective immigrants and automatic exclusion of those testing HIV-positive.

First, persons with HIV are not a threat to public health and safety. Unlike many other infectious diseases that could threaten the Canadian public, HIV is not transmitted through casual contact. Government policies such as mandatory screening provide only an illusion of safety for preventing HIV. The proposal undermines years of public education which has correctly emphasized that individuals must themselves be responsible for preventing transmission by using condoms and sterile needles. The International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, issued in 1998, expressly points out that "there is no public health rationale for restricting liberty of movement or choice of residence on the grounds of HIV status” 1998, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights & UNAIDS.

Second, if Citizenship and Immigration Canada chooses to institute mandatory testing policies on grounds of economic costs, then it must do so in a non-discriminatory basis and it must not exclude all prospective immigrants testing HIV-positive. HIV cannot be singled out for testing to the exclusion of other medical conditions that might impose a burden on the public purse. One study has found that the costs associated with caring for an individual with coronary heart disease in the five year period immediately following diagnosis is in fact greater than the cost of medical care incurred by an individual who tests positive for HIV. Many people with HIV live long, productive lives and not all immigrants with HIV will place an "excessive” burden on health and social services.

Persons with HIV/AIDS do not constitute a threat to public health and safety. Encourage Health Minister Allan Rock and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan to refrain from making HIV testing mandatory for prospective immigrants. AIDS Calgary supports the current immigration policy with respect to HIV/AIDS. People with HIV/AIDS should not be automatically excluded from immigrating on ground of excessive cost to health and social services. Rather, the individual circumstances of each case must be taken into account.

Persons with HIV/AIDS do not constitute a threat to public health and safety.
"There is no public health rationale for restricting liberty of movement or choice of residence on the grounds of HIV status”
1998, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights & UNAIDS

 

“Best of the Net”

“There has been a flood of new treatment information about HIV/AIDS over the past few years. Our site helps people living with HIV/AIDS, caregivers, and community organizations wade through everything and provides them with a place to turn for information they know is accurate and trustworthy.” Anne Swarbrick, Executive Director of CATIE

The Internet explosion has led to the creation of thousands of health-related web sites, and sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between the good and the bad, what’s credible and what’s worthless. But on December 1, 2000, a Canadian web site received kudos from around the world for the quality of information it provides for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

The Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) web site (www.catie.ca) was recently named one of the “Best of the Net” by the Journal of the American Medical Association, which evaluates all types of medical sites, not just those related to HIV/AIDS. Designed as an educational vehicle for individuals and groups affected by and concerned with HIV/AIDS, CATIE’s web site empowers people by providing reliable information ranging from the latest medical discoveries to alternative thera-pies to the “Talking Treatment” forum.

“There has been a flood of new treatment information about HIV/AIDS over the past few years,” said Anne Swarbrick, Executive Director of CATIE. “Our site helps people living with HIV/AIDS, caregivers, and community organizations wade through everything and provides them with a place to turn for information they know is accurate and trustworthy.”

In the past decade there has been tremendous progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS. But with the scientific community’s increased understanding of the disease and the advances in treatments such as combination therapies, AIDS has become a much more complex disease to live with and manage. As a result, the need for a reliable information source has never been greater.

Since its launch in 1996, the CATIE web site has grown to where it is now widely recognized as being one of the best online sources of information about HIV/AIDS. Today, the site features more than 10,000 pages of treatment information.

“Recent statistics indicate that more than 80 per cent of people with AIDS have difficulty adhering to their treatment regimens,” said Swarbrick. “This occurs for a variety of reasons, but one of the most important contributing factors is a lack of proper information about things like proper nutrition, how to effectively manage side effects, and the consequences of non-compliance.”

Two of the additional benefits of CATIE’s web site are its ability to reach people in isolated communities and to provide confidential access to CATIE’s broad range of services. These are important features, especially given that HIV/AIDS is not confined to metropolitan areas and because, in many places, there is still a strong moral and social stigma attached to the disease.

More information about CATIE, nutrition, complementary and alternative treatments, drug therapy and HIV/AIDS in general can be found on the web at www.catie.ca or by calling toll free: 1-800-263-1638.

 

HEART &SOUL

Volunteers are the heart and soul of AIDS Calgary. We have over 120 generous volunteers helping with everything from cooking meals to driving, answering phones, leading seminars, designing brochures, stuffing envelopes and demonstrating how to use a condom correctly. Special events like the AIDS Walk and Calgary Cares are other programs where our volunteers shine. Each year, volunteers donate more than 30,000 hours of their time to AIDS Calgary, worth an estimated $430,500.
Wow!

This year AIDS Calgary joins the world in saluting our volunteers. 2001 has been designated by the United Nations as International Year of
Volunteers. At the United Nations headquarters in New York City, a 100,000-picture mural of volunteers in action was unveiled including photos of AIDS Calgary volunteers. For more information on IYV check out www.iyv2001.org.

AIDS Calgary would like to thank The City of Calgary FCSS department for funding the Volunteer Management Program. For information about volunteering at AIDS Calgary please call Katherine at 508-2500.

 

Journey to India

“The body of an AIDS sufferer who committed suicide has been lying in the morgue of a hospital here for 45 days because undertakers refuse to take it for cremation.” AFP Calcutta, October 27, 2024

This headline may seem unbelievable, but only by North American standards. It wasn’t too long ago that this could happen here – it may still. Awareness around HIV/AIDS is still extremely limited around the world. And ignorance breeds fear.

The AIDS Epidemic Update released in the fall of 2000 estimates that there are 5.8 million people living with HIV or AIDS in South and Southeast Asia. This is one of many reasons why AIDS Calgary has formed a twinning partnership with the Child Foundation of India, an AIDS service organization located in the city of Visakhapatnam. We were thrilled at the opportunity to contribute our skills, knowledge, and experience to assist a developing country in the global effort against HIV/AIDS. I now realize how idealistic this vision was.

AIDS Calgary received a one-year grant jointly sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency and the Canadian Society for International Health. The project includes training exchanges (or internships) for staff of both organizations. We expect to learn a great deal from the Child Foundation of India, as they have been providing front-line HIV/AIDS prevention programs since 1985. The intent is for both organizations to share expertise, experience, resources and learn new approaches for programming. I was given the opportunity to travel to Visakhapatnam in the fall of 2000 to assist in the development of HIV prevention workshops for prison inmates and staff.

My greatest challenge was not the implementation of a peer driven HIV/ AIDS education and prevention program targeted at inmates within an Indian jail. It was the burden of processing a horrifying social climate of poverty, inequity and subordination.

I was challenged by the knowledge that our cook was married at age eleven and has since struggled to survive her husband’s beatings. And that our driver could not afford to purchase textbooks for his school-aged daughter. And that our friend’s acquaintance had his legs amputated as a result of an accident and now begs in the streets to meet his medical costs. And that a family down the street ‘employ’ seven year old servants. I learned about unimaginable suffering. But perhaps I learned more about the strength and resiliency and character of people. That there must be give and take when exploring new cultures, new worlds.

How does one begin to create awareness around HIV/AIDS in a country that struggles to meet the most basic human rights and needs? According to Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS “with deaths mounting, we’re only at the beginning of the impact of the AIDS epidemic”. There are no easy answers. There are even fewer easy solutions. But we have a responsibility to try.

Amy Alexander
Team Leader, Information & Training

“In order to do anything about the world, we first must have the strength to face it without turning away.”
Sharon Salzberg

 

Fundraising and Contributions

Reach for the Sky Thanks to Chuck Heffernan and all sky divers involved in Reach for the Sky. Together, you raised over $2,300 for AIDS Calgary! Finder Keepers Thanks to Larry Smith and Teatro Berdache for donating the proceeds of the Monday, December 4th performance of Finder Keepers to the AIDS Calgary Greenbough Fund! 4 Play Thanks to Rooks Bar and Beanery for hosting the 4 Play fundraiser on November 25th. All proceeds go to the AIDS Calgary/GLCSA Mens Project and the AIDS Calgary YouthXChange. Thanks to the Calgary Opera Association (Caroline, Leslie, Brad and John), who per-formed at our annual Christmas Party. Thanks to Averil for putting this contribution together. Thanks to the Elks Club for providing a wonderful dinner.

 

AIDS CALGARY PROGRAMS

ADVOCACY
Assisting clients in accessing appropriate services and getting through redtape. Call 508-2500.

CALGARY CARES 2001
Exciting fundraising extravaganza needs volun-teers. Opportunities available from now until March. Contact Katherine at 508-2500.

CALGARY DROP-IN CENTRE
Outreach services available on Tuesday mornings at 499 Riverfront Avenue SE.

CARE TEAMS
Volunteers provide individual buddy support including practical and emotional support and transportation. Clients wishing to contact a buddy, call Garth at 508-2500. Interested in being a volunteer buddy? Contact Katherine at 508-2500.

COFFEE CONNECTION
Drop-in for AIDS Calgary clients to provide informal peer support. Coffee and desserts provided. Friday afternoons at our office. Please call 508-2500.

COMMUNITY GARDEN
Participants maintain garden of vegetables and flowers on a weekly basis. Garden operates during summer months. Call 508-2500 for more information.

COMMUNITY KITCHEN
Participatory program where nutritious meals are prepared and grocery costs lowered. Currently running Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday evenings. Call Athena at 508-2500.

GREENBOUGH FUND
Provides limited financial assistance for HIV+ individuals in the Calgary region. Call 508-2500.

IMMIGRANT OUTREACH PROJECT
"BREAKING THE BARRIERS"
Provides appropriate HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention programming for immigrant and refugee communities. Contact Suzy for more information at 508-2500.

MEN’S PROJECT
AIDS Calgary and GLCSA provide outreach resources and information to men who have sex with men. Contact Collin at 819-3775 or [email protected].

NAKED
"Naked" is a 'zine, produced by and for street-involved youth. Contact YouthXChange at 606-1007.

NEEDLE DROP OFF
Drop-off site for dirty needles. Also provides condoms, bleach, water. Available Mon-Fri, 8:30 - 4:30 pm.

POSITIVE LIVING LUNCH PROGRAM
Provision of a hot meal and opportunity for clients to meet socially. Also includes an educational component. Call 508-2500.

REFERRAL
Links to other organizations for food, shelter, counselling, and other needs. Call 508-2500 for an appointment.

SPEAKERS NETWORK
HIV/AIDS prevention and education program for schools. AIDS 101: Facts about HIV, and AIDS 201: Living with HIV/AIDS. Contact the Suzy at 508-2500.

SUPPORT
Counselling around HIV/AIDS related issues, including testing. Call 508-2500.

TRAINING FOR 2000
Training for 2000 is a series of professional development workshops. Call 508-2500 for a brochure and registration information.

TWINNING PROJECT
AIDS Calgary has established an international partnership with the Child Foundation of India involving staff training exchanges and resource sharing.

WORKSHOPS FOR ALL
To register call 508-2500.
Volunteer Orientation and Introduction to AIDS Calgary; Challenging Stereotypes; Safer Sex & HIV/AIDS; Living with HIV/AIDS.

YOUTH OUTREACH
YouthXChange Outreach connects with youth at various locations, including Thompkins Square, Stephen Avenue, & 17th Avenue.

YOUTH WEBSITE
Seeking youth volunteers to help develop and sustain a youth focussed website. Contact Laurie at 508-2500.

YOUTHXCHANGE DISCUSSION GROUPS
YouthXChange has four workshops targeted towards youth and staff members within youth-serving agencies. Contact Jen O. at 508-2500.

 

Other Upcoming Events

Waiters on Stage
JANUARY 24 - FEBRUARY 3
Waiters on Stage will present Daniel MacIvor’s The Soldier Dreams at the Pumphouse Theatre from January 24 to February 3. All proceeds above the regular ticket price at the Gala Opening on January 26 will go to AIDS Calgary. Call 547-4883 for details.

A portion of this newsletter has been published with a contribution from:
Agouron Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
4 Robert Speck Parkway, Suite 240, Mississauga, Ontario
L4Z 1S1
905-276-3600

Calgary Cares 2001

Buy tickets to AIDS Calgary’s premier all-inclusive (all the free beverages and food you can eat and drink) fashion fundraising gala! Do it quick before the show is sold out! Voted #2 fundraiser in Calgary by FFWD Magazine

 

360� is made possible by the support of the Alberta Community HIV Fund (a joint community, federal, provincial initiative, in partnership with Health Canada and Alberta Health & Wellness), the United Way of Calgary and Area and fundraised dollars.

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of our funders.

360� is published bi-monthly and is produced by AIDS Calgary Awareness Association. 360� is available at www.aidscalgary.org

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[email protected]

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