HIV
Aussies living with HIV open up on ABC’s You Can’t Ask That
A group of Australians with HIV will tell their stories on ABC’s You Can’t Ask That this week to shed light on what it’s really like to live with HIV. The fascinating show allows people from marginalised or misunderstood communities to answer anonymous questions from the public in their own words. Some questions are ignorant, …
No, there’s no shortage of HIV drugs in Australia due to COVID-19
Experts have again reassured Australians living with HIV there are no shortages of medications due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Association of People with HIV in Australia (NAPWHA) have advised there is “no risk to supply and no need to stockpile.” “Despite continued assurances that supply is not, nor is it likely to be …
Experts warn against unnecessary HIV medication stockpiling
Experts have warned against Australians excessively stockpiling HIV medications and creating unnecessary and dangerous shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) warns a run on HIV medication in pharmacies could create problems for Australians living with HIV. As a result, ASHM has urged GPs not …
What COVID-19 means for people living with HIV
LGBTIQ health organisations have shared advice for people living with HIV to take precautions during the coronavirus pandemic. Thorne Harbour Health, with Living Positive Victoria and Positive Women Victoria, advises people living with HIV (PLHIV) on treatment with an undetectable viral load – and no other significant health condition – are at no greater risk …
New HIV cases in Queensland are at a five-year low
Rates of HIV diagnoses in Queensland have dropped by more than a third in the last five years, according to new data. Last year, 153 HIV notifications were reported to Queensland Health, compared with 245 in 2014. This is a drop of more than 37 per cent. Experts are attributing the declining rates to increased …
DocQ Retrospective: Dr Fiona Bisshop’s decade in review
After over ten years of the DocQ column, Dr Fiona Bisshop looks back over a decade of healthcare advances in her DocQ retrospective. I realised when I began to write this, on the cusp of a new decade, that the column is now over ten years old. A lot happened in that time, especially in …
Stonewall open for HIV & STI FAST testing over holiday break
Stonewall Medical Centre recently launched its pilot Fast Access Sexual Testing program (FAST) on Thursday nights. Stonewall remains open for HIV & STI FAST testing and other services over the Christmas/New Year break, except for public holidays. [PROMOTION] Faster sexual health screening means earlier treatments and earlier treatments mean earlier resolution with fewer complications. The …
Straight men outnumber gay men in new HIV cases in WA
A larger number of straight-identifying men in Western Australia were diagnosed with HIV than gay men in the last year. Among men who have sex with men in WA, the number of HIV diagnoses (20) was 51 percent lower this year compared to the previous five-year average. However, among straight-identifying men it was 21 percent …
Mardi Gras AGM passes Pride in Protest motion slamming PrEP maker Gilead
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras members have voted to pass a motion from left-wing activist group Pride in Protest challenging PrEP manufacturer Gilead’s sponsorship. The Pride in Protest group made headlines for their controversial Mardi Gras AGM motions to “disinvite” Prime Minister Scott Morrison and ban police floats. While those motions were ultimately defeated …
Domestic and family violence for PLHIV: No excuse… ever.
Domestic and family violence occurs in LGBTIQ+ relationships at approximately the same rates as in heterosexual relationships. Additionally, people living with HIV may experience specific types of abuse if they are in an unhealthy relationship. However, while living with HIV can cause stress and other problems, it is not a cause of, nor an excuse …