When I was calling at people’s doors for many reasons, I liked having some form of organisational identification about my person, to show to people as they opened the door of their house to me. I’ve just had an … Continue reading Charities need to act professionally when knocking at people’s doors…
A video for anyone who wants to better understand the failures of prohibition and learn more about alternatives that have proven to be more cost-effective, safe, and humane. Brought to you by the International Centre for Science in Drug … Continue reading Science shows that the war on drugs does not work
I was interested to notice that cancer patients in Northern Ireland are among those benefiting from a payment from the Northern Ireland Executive of a one-off winter fuel payment. Apparently this is because their immune systems are somewhat suppressed and they need to stay warm. £5000 is not much in the overall budget of the Northern Ireland Executive. At least you would not think that it is. Yet this relatively small amount of money is all that it would take to extend the payment of the winter fuel payment to one group of people who could really benefit from it. … Continue reading Is the Executive so tight that they cannot find £5000?
Following last week’s comment about him from Michael’s Consultant at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Andrew explains the technique that he and Michael use to ensure that Michael takes his HIV meds every day. Continue reading medication adherence: our technique
It’s only two weeks since I was up at the HIV clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. That appointment was an emergency one due to the somewhat awful cough and chest infection from which I was suffering at the time. The news back then was that the results from May’s blood tests were very encouraging:
CD4 = 190 (9%)
VL = undetectable
Well, today I had the results of the tests on the blood taken two weeks ago. Whilst the CD4 count is down numerically to 140, the percentage is the same at 9%. This was not entirely unexpected as my body was fighting the chest infection at the time. Viral Load was once again undetectable.
My consultant, Dr Carol Emerson, reckoned that this was all down to a certain Andrew. Continue reading “results and more tests…”
Well it was bound to happen at some point. I’ve been very good at taking my meds, but with the last appointment at the clinic on the day before my civil partnership, I didn’t really have time to go and get the prescription for the next few months then. And so we’re down to 12 days’ worth of meds left. So up to the Royal Victoria Hospital I must go tomorrow to get the prescription. I’ll call in on the clinic to check the date of my next appointment as that seems to have gone astray as well in my … Continue reading and we’re down to 12 days – oops
Three TLAs make an appearance… Continue reading TMA 00 has returned… more forms to fill in
I’ve just been invited to a fundraiser in aid of Aware Defeat Depression in the John Hewitt bar, Donegall Street, Belfast on this Wednesday 25th May from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.. Aware Defeat Depression is currently coordinating our second annual Depression Aware Week. The week aims to raise public and political awareness of the condition, challenge myths and increase knowledge of the support services available to assist people to recover. As part of the week we’re holding a quiz night in the John Hewitt Bar in Belfast we have some ballot prizes which can be won. You can enter … Continue reading changing your mind is good – but don’t do it when they ask the questions
It is nearly four o’clock in the morning and, despite a number of aborted attempts, Sleep has been just escaping me tonight. I don’t know what is going on that is creating this problem. Perhaps I am doing too much? Perhaps there are many outside forces which are leaning on me? What could they be? Study? I’ve just started an Open University course (DB123 You and your money: personal finance in context. I’ve the first TMA (Tutor Marked Assignment) to be completed and sent off (fortunately by email nowadays) by 3 June. Just Married? It’s only two weeks since Andrew … Continue reading sleep – isn’t that for wimps?
Over 3000 young people are infected with HIV every day. Only 1 in 3 young people have full knowledge of how HIV is transmitted.
from What about HIV?
With world leaders meeting on the subject of AIDS at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 10 June 2011. The global youth movement, What about HIV? founded in Mali at the Global Youth Summit on HIV/AIDS is calling for world leaders and heads of government to implement their Call to Action.
As a relatively young person living with HIV right here in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland, I feel it is important for me to have joined their call – so I have signed up here. Please consider doing so yourself.
Don’t forget that here in Belfast you can make a difference to people right across Northern Ireland who live with HIV by donating to The HIV Support Centre which is now in its 25th year here in the city of Belfast
The full text of the Call to Action is below.
Continue reading “Call to action: from Mali, across the world, and on to the United Nations”
Gyronny Herald 