God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

05/04/2010 • 6:47 pm Comments Off on 04.05.2010 News on medical dagga

04.05.2010 News on medical dagga

The POZ magazine reports:
The Washington, DC, City Council approved a medical marijuana bill allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to patients with chronic conditions such as HIV, glaucoma and cancer, The Washington Post reports. Under the bill, doctors would be able to prescribe patients up to 2 ounces of marijuana in a 30-day period. According to the article, patients’ prescriptions would be filled at city-sanctioned distribution centers, which receive their marijuana supply from private cultivation centers licensed by the city.  The bill, approved April 20, does include restrictions. Patients aren’t allowed to grow their own marijuana, and distribution and cultivation centers can’t be located within 300 feet of schools or preschools. The council is scheduled to vote a second time on the bill next month, after which it could take several months for the program to go into effect.
http://www.poz.com/articles/medical_marijuana_bill_1_18313.shtml

In my opinion a great decision.

Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HIV Treatment, Medical and Research, Politics and Society, , , , ,

05/03/2010 • 6:33 pm Comments Off on 03.05.2010 Disclosure of the HIV status

03.05.2010 Disclosure of the HIV status

It is again and again a debate, whether there is a need to disclose the own HIV status and if so, when and to whom. Every person has the right to privacy and it is his or her own decision which route to follow. In my opinion there is unfortunately still in our times such ignorance and discrimination to find in daily life which makes disclosure very difficulty. On the other hand every HIV positive person should have at least one friend or family member to know about it to make sure there is somebody to talk to…

The website aidsmeds.com has a very detailed write-up about the pros and cons of disclosure and it is worth reading it:

To Tell or Not To Tell

http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/Disclosure_7568.shtml

Filed under: HIV and AIDS, Society and living environment, , , ,

05/02/2010 • 6:29 pm Comments Off on POZ magazine: China lifts 20 year old HIV ban

POZ magazine: China lifts 20 year old HIV ban

China lifted its 20-year-old entry ban on foreigners living with HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and leprosy, the Xinhua News Agency reports.  “There are 51 countries in the world which still have such restrictions,” said Mark Stirling, UNAIDS country coordinator. “China’s move will have significant global influence and provide very important leadership.” Stirling added that the regulation changes, which were passed on April 27, will encourage more public dialogue about HIV/AIDS in China, which will help combat stigma and discrimination.  A recent survey showed that 84 percent of Chinese people preferred to keep the ban, which Stirling said reflects the need for HIV education, including how the virus is transmitted.  According to the article, 740,000 people are living with the virus in China and 49,845 have died of AIDS-related illnesses since the country’s first reported case in 1985.

Original message: http://www.poz.com/rssredir/articles/china_travel_ban_hiv_1_18331.shtml

Filed under: HIV and AIDS, Politics and Society, , , ,

04/30/2010 • 11:05 am Comments Off on 30.04.2010 Human mankind

30.04.2010 Human mankind

Does human mankind ever learn? Most people will answer with a clear “no”… We see it already in our small little world how difficult it is to keep peace with the neighbours or to avoid prejudice. In the finance sector of our days we see that the circle of failures already and those who have spoken about changing the system to avoid another crash of the markets are continuing their same old path.. some minor corrections are allowed to please the public.

In Bangkok people take a whole city hostage – stand-offs, shootings, killings, endangering of innocent people seems to be “normal” – nobody wants violence but everybody is captured so much in his own world and thinking that without “wanting it” one just jumps on every opportunity to gain and to damage those considered to be “the others”.

In our church, the “hype” about sexual abuse creates interesting reactions: the right wingers within our church try to equalise sexual abuse = homosexuality, the left-wing in the church proclaims the conjunction between celibacy and abuse – and instead of investigating the real reasons behind all these, one uses the opportunity for each convictions own gain. This is an abuse in itself and insults the victims. This times can be times of an honest review how church performs – as HIV and AIDS can be a subject to trigger an honest review of parts of our moral theology. Are we able to stand the test of times – or do we fail – again, as many would say.

Difficult times… indeed..

Filed under: HIV and AIDS, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , ,

04/22/2010 • 10:45 pm 3

22.04.2010 working group for HIV positive priests and religious

What has the working group for HIV positive priests and religious in mind?

We want to provide excellent and confidential service and pastoral care for Catholic priests, religious, deacons and seminarians, but open to other denominations – which includes:

    • Advice for priests, religious, deacons and seminarians regarding VCT for themselves and their communities
    • Confidential and non judgmental counseling (in person, by email, phone, letter)
    • General information about HIV and AIDS
    • Assistance in the work on AIDS policies in religious institutions, diocesan structures, church related business
    • Workshops for interested priests and religious
    • Networking for priests and religious infected or affected by the HI virus
    • Advocacy against stigma
    • Transforming the stigma of HIV into a meaningful tool of service to others in our churches
    • Working on a theology of HIV and AIDS
    • Cooperation with relevant authorities, especially with the papal council for health care workers

Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, Networking, Society and living environment, , , , , , ,

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