Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users

This document contains the texts of presentations made at the panel discussion on Access to Treatments in Developing Countries, and at the closing plenary of the 2001 Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network Annual General Meeting. Mark Heywood of the AIDS Law Project provided a South African perspective on why the issue of access to medicines is critical to the response to the epidemic in that country; Marie Helene Bonin of Doctors without Borders Canada discussed reasons why medicines are not available for diseases affecting the third world; Richard Elliot of the HIV/AIDS Legal Network discussed the implications of TRIPS on equitable access to health care in Canada; and David Roy of the Montreal Centre for Bioethics presented on moral and ethical imperatives for providing affordable medicine to people in the Third World. For the closing plenary, Mark Heywood explored the links between access to treatment and the broader issues of globalization, development and human rights. Richard Elliot spoke about what Canada needs to do to live up to its obligations on the UN Declaration Commitment on HIV/AIDS.

Guide outlining a holistic approach to nursing care of people with Hep C or at risk of Hep C. It provides basic information on the epidemiology, risk factors, modes of transmission, tests and diagnosis, prevention and screening for Hep C. It describes issues involved for people living with Hep C, as mothers, people who inject drugs, and as nurses. It describes the nurse's role in relation to Hep C, in terms of helping clients to learn to live with the virus, symptom management, side effect management, and helping patients who have other issues such as being in prison, mental health issues, substance use problems, haemophilia. It ends with a glossary of key terms, readings and other resources.

Instructional manual on how to give culturally-sensitive workshops on two-spirited people (Aboriginal people who are transgender, gay, lesbian, bisexual). The manual begins with definitions of the terms heterosexism, homophobia, lesbophobia, biphobia, heterosexual privilege. It then gives a summary of lesbian and gay rights, legislation, and precedent-setting court cases at the federal level and in each provincial / territorial jurisdiction of Canada. The bulk of the manual contains information on two-spirited people in terms of traditional teachings, history and spirituality, and information and analysis of the interactions between homophobia / prejudice and AIDS. The unique issues facing two-spirited women, men, and youth are discussed. The manual proposes a curriculum to be used to teach adults about two-spirited people. This includes information on cultural concepts to be taught; student activities and discussion; and an anti-homophobia work plan model to be used by Aboriginal communities. The manual concludes with a list of reading references, resources and organizations, and a glossary of terms.

A report on a community-based qualitative research project investigating the perceptions and lived experiences of federal women prisoners with regard to HIV and hepatitis C (HCV). The report documents the specific needs regard HIV/HCV prevention, care, treatment and support. It explores the current responses and gaps in service in both correctional and community services for federal women prisoners. It identifies elements of good practice in the provision of services, and provides a series of recommendations for the Correctional Service Canada, Health Canada, public health departments, community health centres, and community-based organizations. The study and the recommendations are intended to help in the development of a "best practice" framework in this sector to ensure the diverse needs of women with HIV / HCV are met comprehensively.