30 years after Terrence Higgins died, Greens commemorate World Aids Day 2012

 

Human immuno-deficiency virus
Pic: Human immunodeficiency virus which causes Aids

Green Party councillors and activists in Brighton and Hove commemorated World Aids Day on Saturday 1 December.

Green councillors joined organisations such as the Terrence Higgins Trust in the city in their campaign to Stand Up and Stand Out. [1]

Phelim Mac CaffertyDeputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty said, “30 years ago, Terrence Higgins lost his life to an Aids-related illness in St Thomas’ Hospital, London, one of the first deaths attributed to the condition in the UK.

“30 years on there is still considerable concern that in Brighton and Hove and throughout the UK diagnoses are increasing. This is while figures from the Health Protection Agency tell us that almost a quarter of all people with HIV don’t know they have HIV. [2]

“This comes at a time when 1 in 3 people living with HIV don’t have enough for the bare essentials- a fact affirmed by the re-launch of Terrence Higgins Trust’s National Hardship Fund. [3] So we remain very concerned at the Government budget and welfare cuts.

“Greens continue to argue that we need better funding for research, care, prevention and education.

“Green Councillors are showing their  support by supporting the Brighton and Hove World Aids Day Partnership. We are attending concerts to raise money for HIV charities in the city while Councillor Mike Jones and I will be among the many people reading the names of those who are no longer, sadly, with us , in a candle-lit vigil in New Steine Gardens on Saturday. [4]

“There is still an awful lot of prejudice that people with HIV face. Almost 100,000 people in the UK live with HIV: they need our support, not judgement.”

Mike JonesCouncillor Mike Jones who works as a Sexual Health Adviser in the NHS, said, “Early diagnosis and treatment of HIV dramatically improves the life expectancy of those infected and significantly reduces the risk of onward transmission of the virus.

“In Brighton and Hove we still see too many new infections because people make the wrong assumption about their own or a partner’s HIV status. Don’t put off testing for HIV, a test could save your life.”

 

Notes

For more information please contact the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670.

[1] http://www.tht.org.uk/our-charity/Fundraise/World-AIDS-Day

[2] http://www.hpa.org.uk/Publications/InfectiousDiseases/HIVAndSTIs/1211HIVintheUK2012/

[3] http://www.tht.org.uk/our-charity/About-us/Media-centre/Press-Releases/2012/February/Terrence-Higgins-Trust-relaunches-Hardship-Fund-for-people-with-HIV-in-greatest-need

[4] http://www.facebook.com/worldAIDSdayBH  Brighton Aids Memorial

Candle light vigil, New Steine Gdns, Saturday 1 December, 6-7pm.

All are welcome to attend the remembrance event of those we have lost to HIV/AIDS in Brighton & Hove.

There will be a reading of the names and a candle light vigil.

 

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