God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

Thanks to Rotary

Thursday afternoon the Rotary Club of Signal Hill as the host club for the matching grant handed over a Nissan Livina Acenta 1,6 to HOPE Cape Town.

The Rotary Clubs and Districts involved with this Matching Grant (for the vehicle and insurance for 3 years) are:
Signal Hill (South Africa)  –   Gelsenkirchen-Schloss Horst  (Germany) – District D1870 (Germany) –  Chateau Salin Dieuze Morhage (France) – District 1790  (France).
The match from The Rotary Foundation and a huge contribution from the Rotary Club of  St Wendel (Germany) in District 1860, which is a District in Future Vision added the necessary funds.

HOPE Cape Town is grateful to all sponsors and supporters, especially as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust and the Rotary Club of Signal Hill is one of the Founding Fathers of the organisation.

Filed under: HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, , , , , , , , , , ,

Young, gay, religious and the thread of HIV.. a deadly mix?

In one of the newsletters relating to HIV issues I found this email. I am touched because once again I am reminded how difficult it is for a young person from a religious background and family to be gay and when HIV is added as a concern – faith becomes a deadly threat. There is so much still to do to get it right and to bring faith to be the liberating factor, not the killing factor… The burden to carry seems for this young man, having life still in front of him, too heavy. The RC youth day in Madrid where so many young people gather now for prayers and to meet the pope – wouldn’t that not be a great opportunity to bring out this powerful message that God loves unconditional – no “but” added. Just love and acceptance.

 Young, depressed and confused – Aug 14, 2011

I am 16 year old gay teenager. My 20 year old boyfriend recently found out he may be HIV positive. The doctor told him his viral load is very low and that the virus is almost detectable in his blood and that he needs to revisit in 6 months again to do another hiv test to see if he is really positive. I am confused. We had unprotected sex before his results. I topped him but did not ejaculate inside of him. I am not circumcised and I am really worried about my chances of infection. I got a test done privately with my boyfriend by his doctor but it came back negative. It’s been eight weeks since that incident and I have noticed slight pains under my arms pits, on my legs near my groin areas and even under my chin, but the area is not swollen. I am very depressed because I was being very young and stupid.  My parents will surely kill me if they knew I have contracted this disease. There is the possibility of me being thrown out of the house because my father is a pastor. I have not been sleeping nor eating much and it’s really affecting my grades in school. I hate myself of being gay and wonder why this has happened to me. At the same time the pressure of all this is really overwhelming and I don’t want to make the wrong decision in killing myself. Nobody understands besides my boyfriend but this lifestyle is looked down upon from the church and many people in our society. Please sir, I need your advice. Thanks.

Source: http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/Mental/Q216792.html?ic=700101

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

South African HAART programme now open to all

All HIV patients with a CD4 count of 350 or less will now get government HAART treatment, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe announced today during a SANAC meeting. This is indeed good news for South African living with the virus. He also revealed that from 13,5 million newly tested South African, some two million people were tested positive.

More info:

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/arv-program-open-to-all-now-1.1116850

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

POZ Magazine: Angels Travel on Horseback in Southern Africa

In Lesotho, a Southern African country the size of Maryland, health workers on horseback are transporting blood tests, drugs and medical supplies between 
urban hospitals and rural mountain health clinics. More than four months of the year, bad weather washes out the roads, making them impassable by vehicle, so Horse Riding for Health, started by the United States Agency for International 
Development and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, allows patients to be treated year-round. One in four adults in Lesotho is living with HIV.

Source:

http://www.poz.com/articles/HIV_Horseback_HIV_2634_20643.shtml

Filed under: General, HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, Medical and Research, Networking, Society and living environment, , , ,

POZ Magazine: HIV-Positive? Get Screened for Anal Cancer

All positive people can—and should—be screened for anal cancer, says a recent VA study.
Testing their HIV-positive clients for anal cancer, the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Miami found a high rate of precancerous anal lesions (and two cases of cancer)—nearly 15 percent, whether or not the clients had a history of anal sex. Many providers and researchers believe early detection and treatment can cut down on complications and death.

Source:

http://www.poz.com/articles/Anal_Cancer_HIV_2634_20652.shtml

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

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