From yesterday, following a legal move1 made by the North’s health minister, it is now possible to buy HIV self-testing kits and to test yourself for HIV. Speaking on World AIDS Day, [Simon Hamilton MLA] said: “The change in the law will allow … Continue reading HIV self tests now available in North thanks to legal change
Stigma experiences, well-being and medication adherence in gay men living with HIV If you live in England, Northern Ireland, or the Republic or Ireland and are over 18 years of age, been living with HIV for over a year, and … Continue reading QUB research into stigma in gay men living with HIV
Every now and then, politicians surprise me. For instance, The Rt Hon Peter Robinson MP MLA is supporting religious freedom and freedom of conscience. This has been highlighted by Faith and Pride: Glad @dupleader is taking a strong stand for freedom of conscience. http://t.co/vm2EjzLFTd — Faith And Pride (@FaithAndPride) March 9, 2015 Perhaps you should read what Faith and Pride has said about his comments… Support Religious Freedom, Support Same-Sex marriage Continue reading Politicians sometimes surprise me…
The UK Prime Minister is making extrapolations on future policy on the governance of the UK based on one vote on a different issue in one part of the UK. That is hardly democratic is it? Continue reading A vote for #BetterTogether is not a vote for more devolution… #indyref
It is the beginning of our third week in Gibraltar. It does not seem possible that the time has passed so quickly. We left on the fourth Sunday of Lent, and now we are at the beginning of Holy Week, … Continue reading Two weeks here, and already seeing a GP.
It was results time last Tuesday morning when I visited the Royal Victoria Hospital’s GUM clinic for possibly the last time. Since diagnosis my CD4 count has been rather on the low side, on diagnosis, it was 100, and has dropped to 80, before climbing up to above 200. Last Tuesday morning I got told that it was over three hundred! As I said on Twitter: #bounce VL <70. CD4 = 330 and 20%. #bestever couldn't have done w/o help from @BelfastTrust @belfastwriter and @PositiveLife_NI — John [HIVBlogger] (@HIVBlogger) March 25, 2014 The Viral Load count was a little bit higher than … Continue reading A bit of a bounce last week…
It has been a wonderful Christmas Day which has been only slightly spoiled by people reading reports on Twitter, fearing the worst, demanding to be told, and forgetting that in the bad old days of the Northern Irish Troubles we heard in the morning. 24 hours a day news has spoilt us. As I have just said on Facebook, if there is anything untoward we will hear about it when we wake tomorrow. For now, let’s enjoy the peace and restfulness of the season. Continue reading When there is trouble, we will hear about it, don’t worry.
Michael questions why the BBC has ruled that presenters wearing red ribbons for World Aids Day is not appropriate but the RBL Poppy is. Continue reading Poppies Yes, Red Ribbons No.
At the end of last month, I met with Sara Girvin, a reporter with The Sunday Life — Sunday newspaper of the year — to talk to her about living with HIV. Sara had contacted me earlier in the month via Twitter suggesting an interview in the future. As before, with the Belfast Telegraph, and Ulster Television, and anyone else really, I am happy to talk about living with HIV. Sara suggested it being ‘at some stage before Christmas’ and I suggested that we have it leading up to 1 December, which is World AIDS Day.
The Sunday Life unlike its sister daily paper, the Belfast Telegraph, does not have a website. This can only be for the reason that they want us to go out and spend the £1.40 on buying the paper. I do have some sympathy for them, but on occasion it is awkward when trying to get people to read the article. So, that afternoon, Andrew went out and got a copy. Below is a photo of the spread — I did not expect to be across two pages!
Friday 22 November 2013 was an awful day for me. I started off not too badly, not feeling particularly well, but decided that it was probably best to stay in bed for as much of the day as I could. … Continue reading An awful day…
