News
World AIDS Day 2011
‘Act Aware: Protect yourself and others’ is the theme of Waverley Care’s events for World AIDS Day. Events are being held on Thursday 1st December in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.
They provide an opportunity to hear stories of those who are living positively with HIV, whilst also including time and space to remember those who have died of AIDS, both here in Scotland and elsewhere in the world. All the events include music and readings and refreshments are shared at the end of the evening.
Please consider joining us to challenge stigma and stand alongside those who are living with HIV. Full event details can be found in our Events Diary.
In July, Waverley Care was pleased to welcome to Scotland Canon Gideon Byamugisha, an Anglican priest from Uganda who is living with HIV.
Canon Gideon was the keynote speaker at “We Are One, Let’s Walk Together” a faith and health conference held in Glasgow, which brought together over 80 leaders of African Christian faith communities.
Canon Gideon spoke openly about the need for religious leaders to encourage condom use amongst couples in their congregations and highlighted the need for early testing for HIV. He also spoke of the complementary nature of
prayer and medication and the need for these to be used together.
Feedback from those attending the conference was excellent, and a new faith and health ambassadors scheme has been put in place to further relationships and create lasting links with the faith communities. Canon Gideon was also kept busy during his Scottish visit by joining Mark Lazarowicz, MP in Edinburgh for an event discussing HIV policy and the need to challenge discrimination.
You can view the presentations on Asylum Seekers Rights and Christian Faith and Healing which were given on the day or watch an interview with Canon Gideon below for more information.
Our up-to-date understanding of HIV and HIV treatments, means a woman who is living with HIV can now enjoy a straightforward pregnancy and a healthy baby. Less than 1% of babies born to HIV positive mothers on medication and under full medical supervision, are HIV positive. However, having the right information and the right care is of great importance to ensure the health of both mother and baby.
Angie, our Network Alba Co-ordinator, is currently developing a programme of workshops on the theme of HIV & Pregnancy.
Following a very successful session in Glasgow, held jointly with Positively UK, Angie is planning to offer these one-off workshops in different areas of Scotland in the coming months.
The workshops will target women living with HIV who are considering becoming pregnant and those who
are in the early stages of pregnancy.
