Vancouver Persons With AIDS Society Newsletter Issue #53 February 1992

VANCOUVER ISLAND PROJECT! A group of PWAs from the Victoria area develop a Vancouver Persons With AIDS Society chapter for the Souther Vancouver Island; PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Thanks to everyone for their efforts on the last newsletter. Thanks to Angles for printing clarification of the Province newspaper's misquote. Thanks to the gay community who have always been at the forefront of fundraising for the Society. And a reaffirmation of the Society as a "grassroot" organization; REMEMBER THE AGM The fifth Annual General Meeting is scheduled for March 29, 1992; THE CONTINUING CARE DIVISION OF THE VANCOUVER HEALTH DEPARTMENT This division funded by the Provincial Ministry of Health includes visiting Home Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Therapy Services, Long Term Care, Home Support Services and L. T. C. Residential Facility Care. Information and eligibility; COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH FUND POLICY; ADVOCACY ISSUES New projects include an Individual Advocacy Project, a Prison liaison Project, and an Aboriginal Outreach Project. Ongoing issues include amendments to the Privacy Act and Human Rights Code legislations and the Treatment Information Project; "CONTACTS": AIDS RESOURCES GUIDE. AIDS Vancouver has created a special resource guide, CONTACTS, to help you find out exactly who does what in the area of HIV/AIDS support services and education; THE MAGIC FOUNTAIN PROJECT The objective of this art project is to promote HIV/AIDS awareness through the "DESIGN VANCOUVER WEEK" celebration; STEP 5 AA and HIV; HELP FOR HIV+ PHYSICIANS MEDICAL EXPERTISE RETENTION PROGRAM The American Association of Physicians for Human Rights has launched a program to salvage the personal and professional expertise and investment of those physicians who are reevaluating their current practices or who are forced to restrict them; G.A.I.N. PROBLEMS You may appeal any decision affecting your benefits and full benefits must be reinstated until the appeal is heard; GYPSY MOTH SPRAYING Biological product to be used with no pesticides or insecticides, no evidence of harm to humans, birds, pets, etc.; AIDS TREATMENT HIGHLIGHTS. NEW MEDICATIONS FOR OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS. AZT NOTICE; VACCINES FOR HIV - AN UPDATE: Preventative Vaccines, Restorative Vaccines, GP160 Update, Salk HIV-Immunogen. NOTICE TO MEMBERS regarding missing appointments for T-4 cell count testing. HOME IV THERAPY British Columbia does not provide home IV therapy for Foscarnet and a number of other drugs. CMV RETINITIS: CHECKING YOUR VISION Description of CMV infections and instructions to check peripheral vision. PROPHYLAXIS PROTOCOL. CHANGES TO THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR HIV INFECTION. DNCB (1-cloro-2,4-dinitrochlorbenzene). ACYCLOVIR AND THE MEDIA. PCR TESTING ARRIVES AT ST. PAUL'S. ACCESS TO NON-APPROVED THERAPIES? Plans are underway at St. Paul's to use the Infectious Disease Clinic as a setting for administering non-approved therapies. Individuals will be able to be monitored and data will be collected that would provide clinical insight into the adminstration of experimental treatments. THE TREATMENT INFORMATION PROJECT NEEDS YOU! Call for volunteers. DDI. KNOW YOUR STUFF The Treatment Information Project vertical file system covers 1200 subjects with about 100,000 documents; BOARD NEWS Advisory Committee of retired PWA Board members established to offer continuity, advice and expertise. Board resignations and appointments; STRYKERNEWS PART TIME WORK PLUS CANADA DISABILITY PENSION Rules for working and collecting CPP. INCOME TAX TIME Free tax returns done. ANTIVIRALS: TO TAKE OR NOT TO TAKE Commentary on things to take into account when considering antiviral therapy; KUDOS; WE'RE OPEN: CALENDAR AND ONGOING EVENTS; BON APPETIT High fibre, economic and nutritious recipes, Carot and Ginger Soup adn Beef Lentil Curry; TRUE CONFESSIONS Society member is interviewed for a full page article in the Cariboo Observer in Quesnel, BC and talks about the reactions in his community; FOOD BAG NOTICE Food bags will now be available every week for delivery and pickup at AIDS Vancouver including the last Wednesday of the month; FEARLESS COMMENT Comment on the article "Choosing to Go and Saying Goodbye"; PEER COUNSELLORS NEEDED!!; HOW'S WORK? AIDS Vancouver is looking for examples of HIV-based discrimination in the workplace; LAW STUDENTS' LEGAL ADVICE PROGRAM Free legal advice from law students under the supervision of practicing lawyers; NOTICEBOARD; CLASSIFIEDS; OBITUARY: JAMES STEVENSON McINTYRE; HELPLINE Volunteers needed;