Vancouver PWA Coalition Newsletter Issue #34 February/March 1990

AZT A MORAL VICTORY Report on the Vancouver Persons with AIDS Society case charging the provincial government with discrimination on its policy requiring payment for HIV; ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Announcement; A YEAR OF RAPID CHANGE Annual report from the Chair of the Vancouver Persons with AIDS Society; AIDS ACTIVISM TAKES ATLANTA AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power held 2 days of actions in Atlanta Georgia against the Centres for Disease Control demanding an HIV inclusive definition of AIDS; ddI PATIENTS QUESTIONNAIRE We are collecting data on the side effects of ddI. Share your experience; MARCH 25TH 1 PM ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING; INFORMING OURSELVES Should the Vancouver PWA Coalition Advise and Inform Members about Treatments? Commentary; A ROOF OVER MY HEAD! Housing Needs Project formed to identify the housing needs of PWAs and to work toward the provision of more affordable housing suitable to meet those needs; FOCUS ON WOMEN FOR WORLD AIDS DAY 1990 World Health Organization announces theme for World AIDS Day; WOMEN AND AIDS NETWORK Drop in space to share and obtain information; AIDS TREATMENT HIGHLIGHTS RESEARCH NEWS: ACYCLOVIR MAY HELP DELAY DISEASE PROGRESSION, HOW AZT & ddI WORK, LITHIUM MAY REDUCE AZT SIDE EFFECTS, ddI PRODUCES SIDE EFFECTS IN HIGH DOSES; ONGOING EVENTS; PASSIVE IMMUNOTHERAPY (PATH) PROMISING NEW AIDS TREATMENT Plasma rich in antibodies against HIV is drawn from seropositive donors, treated to inactivate the HIV and transfused to patients with advanced HIV disease; PATH PASSIVE IMMUNOTHERAPHY TRIAL IN VANCOUVER? Canadian PATH Task Force set up working towards establishing multi-centre PATH trial. Call for volunteers. Information pack available; BC FUNDING SOON FOR TESTS? HIV P24 Antigen (P24) and Beta 2 Microglobulin (B2M) Meetings held to work toward funding tests; TESTS FUNDED IN FEBRUARY P24/B2M testing is now available; A TAROT IN TRANSITION: The transformative Power of the Heart. Personal reflection; THOUGHTS ALONG THE WAY Reflection on freedom; DISCRIMINATION Have you been discriminated against because of your HIV/AIDS status? Contact the Advocacy Committee with details; THE HERO DEED Personal reflection; ON THE SHELVES New acquisitions to the PWA Library; TALKING BOOKS available; "THE NORMAL HEART" March 11th Fundraiser Performance; "SLAVE AUCTION" Fundraiser announcement; DEBT ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE BC Government Debtor Assistance Service; DISABILITY BENEFITS: GETTING YOUR FAIR SHARE The BC Coalition of the Disabled's Advocacy Access has advocates to help people with a disability get their fair share of benefits; PWAs LIVING LONGER Health Study Reveals Reprinted from the Bay Area Reporter; SHELLFISH POISONING Medic Alert to PWAs Cook shellfish thoroughly, avoid mixing cooked shellfish with raw in the same container; CHUCK GROCHMAL 1952 - 1990; VOLUNTEERS Program Well under Way. Systems are now in place and new volunteers are currently being screened, trained and placed in various programs; HELPLINE Volunteer Opportunities at PWA Get Involved!; NOTICE BOARD;