Archive for category: Press Release

Minister Varadkar launches Ireland’s first National World AIDS Day (WAD) Campaign

Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar today (Thursday 26^th November 2015) launched the first ever five-day national World AIDS Day campaign in Ireland. This campaign is developed by NGO’s and statutory bodies across Ireland in partnership with the HSE Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme.

26/11/2015 Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar TD (5th from right), launches Ireland’s first National World AIDS Day (WAD) Campaign developed by NGOs and statutory bodies across Ireland in partnership with the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme #WADirl. Pictured with Minister Varadkar are, from left, Oisin McKenna, SpunOut.ie, Jacinta Whelan, Dochas, Mick Quinlan, HSE Gay Men’s Health Service, Roisin Guiry, HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme, Niall Mulligan, HIV Ireland, Fiona Lyons, HSE Clinical Lead for Sexual Health, Lynn Caldwell, ACET, Jimmy Goulding, Positive Now, Aoife Ni Shuilleabhain, USI, and Hayley Mulligan, AIDSWest. Photo: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

The focus of the Irish campaign is Solidarity with all people living with HIV, both those who know they are living with HIV, and those who don’t. The campaign will run for 5 days from 27^th November 2015 until World AIDS Day on the 1^st December 2015, and aims to raise awareness about the many issues that present themselves for people living with HIV and those at risk of contracting HIV.
While there has been a significant and welcome improvement in treatment and testing for HIV, concern remains regarding the number of newly diagnosed cases in Ireland. As of mid-November 2015, 427 new diagnoses of HIV have been reported by the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) [1].The key messages of HIV Visibility, HIV Stigma, HIV Support and HIV Knowledge are being promoted through a social media campaign on Facebook and Twitter asking people to show their solidarity with people who are living with HIV. They can do so by wearing a red ribbon, starting a conversation about HIV with friends and family, challenging HIV stigma and discrimination if they encounter it, or learning more about safer sex and getting tested for HIV. The hashtag for the campaign is #WADirl.

26/11/2015 Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar TD, launches Ireland’s first National World AIDS Day (WAD) Campaign developed by NGOs and statutory bodies across Ireland in partnership with the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme #WADirl. Pictured with Minister Varadkar are Fiona Lyons, HSE Clinical Lead for Sexual Health, and Jimmy Goulding, Positive Now. Photo: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Speaking at the launch in Dublin, Minister Varadkar said: “This is a very timely and a very positive campaign. I want to encourage everyone to embrace its theme of coming together in order to break down stigma and barriers. The number of new HIV cases is rising year on year which is a real cause for concern. My Department is currently funding a rapid HIV test in the main cities on a pilot basis, as part of the new Sexual Health Strategy. STI screening is available free of charge at 20 locations across the State. However, it’s important that we raise awareness and detect as many undiagnosed cases as we can in order to get treatment early, minimise the long-term health implications, and reduce potential new infections.”

The Lord Mayors of Dublin and Cork and Mayors of Limerick and Galway are supporting the campaign by promoting the key messages of HIV Visibility, HIV Stigma, HIV Support and HIV Knowledge. Equally, city councils and local authorities are showing their solidarity by lighting up in red, prominent buildings in cities across the country. HIV organisations and sexual health services are supporting the campaign in many ways including organised events and activities that will run throughout the campaign and into December.

Welcoming this new campaign, Lysander Preston, Chairperson of Positive Now, an all-Ireland network of people living with HIV said, “Positive Now stands in solidarity with those living with HIV and AIDS around the world. We will continue to work together to help combat the HIV related stigma and discrimination which greatly impacts on individuals living with this illness. This campaign is a significant and welcome step in raising awareness about HIV in Ireland today”.

26/11/2015 Do you know your HIV status? Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar TD, with Fiona Lyons, HSE Clinical lead for Sexual Health, getting tested for HIV as part of the National World AIDS Day (WAD) campaign #WADirl. Photo: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Earlier this month, Irelands first National Sexual Health Strategy was published providing a national framework for sexual health & wellbeing. HIV prevention and working together to achieve this is an important aspect of this strategy. Dr. Fiona Lyons, the HSE’s Clinical Lead for Sexual Health Services said “The strategy highlights the need to address stigma and discrimination for those living with HIV and the negative impact they can have on HIV disclosure and people accessing HIV treatment and support services. Recommendations within the Strategy aim to address these issues through the promotion of positive cultural change regarding sexual health. We all have a part to play in achieving these recommendations”.

The campaign is developed by:

ACET, AIDS West, BelongTo, Concern, Dochas, Gay Health Network, GOSHH, HIV Ireland, HSE Sexual Health & Crisis Pregnancy Programme, HSE Gay Men’s Health Service, HSE Public Health, HSE Health Promotion & Improvement, HSE National Communications Division, HSE HIV/Sexual Health Helpline, Irish Family Planning Association, OutHouse, Positive Now, SpunOut.ie, the Sexual Health Centre Cork, Union of Students in Ireland.

HIV Ireland has warmly welcomed the launch of Irelands first ever National Sexual Health Strategy by the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar at The Button Factory in Temple Bar.

In conversation with Ray Darcy, who compered the launch, the Minister spoke about the important role the new strategy will have on the ‘need to turn the tide on increasing STI infections, including HIV’. The Minister went on to highlight the importance of, and need for, “better access to education and information” on sexual health for all.

Speaking after the launch, Niall Mulligan, Executive Director of HIV Ireland stated that ‘This is the first time HIV has been integrated into a broader sexual health context in Ireland. While this is welcomed by HIV Ireland, we cannot afford to become complacent. We know that certain population groups remain at greater risk of HIV infection and that HIV-related stigma and discrimination remain a significant issue for people when it comes to accessing testing, disclosing their HIV status and onward transmission. We must continually remind ourselves that as new HIV diagnoses increase in Ireland (388 new provisional diagnoses to date in 2015, an increase of 65 over this time last year – www.hpsc.ie), approximately 30% of people who are living with HIV in Ireland don’t actually know they are. The Ministers support for increased testing is key to responding to the growing HIV diagnoses in Ireland’.

For many years, HIV Ireland has called for the publication of a National Sexual Health Strategy. On Irish AIDS Day 2005, HIV Ireland called on the Irish Government to put sexual health on the political agenda, to develop a National Sexual Health Strategy, while reinvesting in prevention and making condoms freely available. On that very day, ten years ago, HIV Ireland organised a march from the Garden of Remembrance to Dail Eireann to lobby for a National Sexual Health Strategy and received political endorsement from a range of T.D.s including our current President, Mr. Michael D. Higgins.

In launching this strategy, Leo Varadkar becomes the first Health Minister in the history of the Irish state to preside over a fundamental policy shift in the way society responds to the sexual health and wellbeing of each and every citizen. By creating an openness towards sexual health, we can tackle some of the barriers that have existed for many years in relation to sex and sexual health in Ireland. Embarrassment, lack of knowledge, fear and shame have so often led to poor health outcomes, stigma and discrimination for people across Irish society, especially those affected by HIV.

Since 2005, HIV Ireland has been consistently involved in the development of the new strategy, and is delighted to see it come to fruition. The resourcing of the strategy is crucial and when asked about a budget to implement the strategy the Minister responded that the Department of Health “haven’t put a formal costing on it yet” but with ‘a rising health budget there will be resources made available” for implementing the strategy. HIV Ireland welcomes this commitment and looks forward to working alongside the Department of Health, the Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme and other key stakeholders across the lifetime of the strategy.

For information about HIV, testing, safer sex and support please visit – www.hivireland.ie; www.man2man.ie; www.positivenow.ie

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For further information please contact:

Niall Mulligan,

Executive Director

HIV Ireland

70 Eccles Street

Dublin 7

Mobile:  085 7457951

Tel: 01 8733799

Email: niall.mulligan@hivireland.ie

www.hivireland.ie

HIV Ireland Information

HIV Ireland is a registered charity operating at local, National and European level. The principal aim of the organisation is too improve, through a range of support services, conditions for people living with HIV and AIDS and/or Hepatitis, their families and their caregivers while further promoting sexual health in the general population.

Our mission and vision is to contribute towards a significant reduction in the incidence and prevalence of HIV in Ireland and towards the realisation of an AIDS-free generation by advocating for individuals living with HIV, preventing new HIV infections and combating HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

Since 1987 HIV Ireland (formerly Dublin AIDS Alliance) has been pioneering services in sexual health education and promotion, and has consistently engaged in lobbying and campaigning in the promotion of human rights. Our approach broadly reflects a harm minimisation model which emphasises practical rather than idealised goals. In relation to practical service provision we currently operate under two headings:

1. Community Support

• Counselling
• 1-1 Support
• Advocacy
• Community Outreach Work
• HIV & STI Community Testing
• Capacity Building with People Living with HIV

1. Prevention, Education & Training

• One day workshops on HIV, STI’s and Sexual Health
• Sexual Health Training for Trainers Programme (Let’s Talk About…..Safer Sex)
• Free Condom Service (Just Carry One Campaign)
• Social Media work and campaigning
• Network Involvement

ICONIC PERFORMER MARIANNE FAITHFULL JOINS THE HIGH HOPES CHOIR FOR HEP C AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Press release Monday July 27th 2015

ICONIC PERFORMER MARIANNE FAITHFULL JOINS THE HIGH HOPES CHOIR FOR HEP C AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Marianne, who has hepatitis C, and Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin to kick off the first ever National Hepatitis C Awareness Week at event in Smock Alley Theatre
‘Cure This’ national roadshow to visit Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Athlone this week – organised by Community Response, HIV Ireland and UISCE (Union for Improved Services Communication and Education)
Press release

Monday July 27th 2015

Today marks the first day in a week-long awareness campaign for a much misunderstood disease, hepatitis C. Iconic singer and actress Marianne Faithfull caught a practice session with the High Hopes Choir ahead of a hepatitis C awareness-raising performance tonight at the Smock Alley Theatre.

The performance by the High Hopes choir – Ireland’s only choir made up of people who have been affected directly by homelessness – is just one of several awareness events planned for the first ever National Hepatitis C Awareness Week. Marianne, who has hepatitis C, will be joined by Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin in speaking at the Smock Alley event tonight in an effort to increase awareness of the disease and encourage people to avail of free testing.

The first ever awareness week for hepatitis C is being backed by three community groups – Community Response, HIV Ireland and UISCE (Union for Improved Services Communication and Education). All three groups work with those living in Ireland infected with hepatitis C, primarily in the Dublin City Centre area. However, the groups recognise that there is a pressing need to increase awareness in other urban areas with significant hepatitis C problems. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 30,000 people across Ireland could have undiagnosed hepatitis C. To reach those people the three community groups have partnered with other regional support groups to organise awareness events across the country this week.

World Hepatitis Day is traditionally celebrated on July 28th and was selected as the perfect time for the awareness week to coincide, with a national roadshow due to visit Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Athlone. A specially created eye-catching ‘Big Green C’ prop will travel to these areas this week and be placed in public spaces to help educate people and encourage those who may be at risk of contracting hepatitis C, or who may have the disease and be unaware of this, to get tested.

Official ambassador for the Awareness Week Marianne Faithfull is well aware of the difficulties facing those living with hepatitis C. Commenting at this morning’s launch, Marianne said;

“It is a pleasure to be in Dublin today to launch this very important awareness week for hepatitis C. Living with any disease is always a challenge, but the stigma associated with hepatitis C makes for an especially difficult journey for those affected. That is why I wanted to get involved and share my story and experience of living with hepatitis C – it is only through talking about hepatitis C and breaking down some of the untruths that exist about the illness will we begin to educate people. I urge anyone concerned about hepatitis C to get involved in this week’s events and get as much information as you can.”

Minister Ó Ríordáin, who is also supporting the work of the three community groups, stressed the importance of raising awareness to at-risk groups;

“I’m delighted to be here today as part of the launch of the National Hepatitis C Awareness Week. I think campaign weeks like this are vital to help challenge the stigma around diseases like hepatitis C and to raise awareness in encouraging people to get tested. I would encourage anyone with concerns to take a test because early intervention is crucial in allowing people with hepatitis to receive the treatment that they need. It is also important that service providers have up to date information on how to treat someone who is at risk, or has, hepatitis C, which is again why testing is so crucial. I hope the upcoming week is a success and I wish all of the organisers well.”

The two metre tall Big Green C, created especially to symbolise the magnitude of the disease, will raise awareness and promote the ‘Cure This’ message in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Athlone throughout the week with a number of events planned in each area by local support groups and service providers. The National Hepatitis C Awareness Week roadshow will visit the following locations around Ireland in participation with local support groups this week:

Monday July 27th – North Earl Street, Dublin, with SAOL Project (Stability, Ability, Work and Learning), from 12pm – 2pm
Tuesday July 28th – The Open Door Project, Parnell Square, Athlone, with Merchants Quay Ireland, from 12pm – 2pm
Wednesday July 29th – Bedford Row, Limerick, with GOSHH (Gender Orientation Sexual Health HIV), from 12pm – 3pm
Thursday July 30th – Grand Parade (outside the old Capital Cinema), Cork, with Cork Drug and Alcohol Task Force and the Southern Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force, from 12pm – 2pm.
As well as marking the start of the National Awareness Week activity, today also sees the launch of The Hepatitis C Partnership. Explaining the launch of the new Partnership, Nicola Perry, Manager of Community Response, said: “The Hepatitis C Partnership (HCP) is a newly formed collaboration of interested stakeholders in the area of hepatitis C – specifically promoting testing, advocating for equitable access to treatment and promoting prevention messages. We especially encourage partnerships of service providers, and it has been fantastic to work with regional service providers on this first ever awareness week to support them with their own awareness activities and events. We hope that people will use our website, www.HepInfo.ie, to get support, find services and be part of our work in this area.”

Ms Perry added; “We would like to thank both Marianne Faithfull and Minister Ó Ríordáin for being here today, their support is greatly appreciated. The Irish government has made encouraging strides in the area of hepatitis C this year which is most welcome, and we hope that this positive momentum and resourcing will continue into the future.”

Also commenting at today’s launch was Emily Reaper of UISCE, who reiterated the call on those concerned about hepatitis C to take that first step and get tested: “As a person with hepatitis C, I understand better than most how scary it can be to have confirmation that you are actually sick. But once you have taken that first step and been tested, you can get the support and help that you need. It has been very heartening this year to partner with the various regional service providers who work every day with those living with Hep C – this is not just a Dublin problem, this awareness week and the launch of the Hepatitis C Partnership will hopefully be the first steps towards initiating a national discussion about this burden.”

Niall Mulligan, Director of HIV Ireland, added: “If we can get one message through this week to anyone who may be concerned about hepatitis C, it is to get tested. Hepatitis C is transmitted from person-to-person through blood-to-blood contact and can be transmitted in a number of ways that people are not aware of. It is commonly believed that hepatitis C is exclusively a consequence of sharing needles but this is not the case. Other ways it can be transmitted include acupuncture, body modifications such as tattooing, piercing, steroids, Botox and tanning injections, in cases where the equipment used was not sterilised properly after being used on an infected person.1 If you are concerned, please visit HepInfo.ie to find out where you can get tested.”

The first ever National Hepatitis C Awareness Week is supported by the biopharmaceutical company AbbVie. To get involved in the campaign, take part in an awareness event, or to get more information on hepatitis C and testing, please visit www.HepInfo.ie.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Lorraine Cronin or Andrew Shaw, First Medical Communications

lcronin@firstmedical.ie 087 773 0361 (LC) or ashaw@firstmedical.ie 087 752 5445 (AS)

Notes to Editors:

About hepatitis C:

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver, causing it to become inflamed and not work as effectively in the body.2 Hepatitis C is a serious chronic illness that requires treatment, and is a curable disease for most. Hepatitis C testing is free at public testing clinics.2

You can get hepatitis C through contact with an infected person’s blood.2 The only way to know if you have hepatitis C is to get tested.2 Untreated hepatitis C can cause serious health problems, such as liver disease.2 Hepatitis C will not go away in about 4 out of every 5 people who become infected – it will become chronic and will require treatment.2

References

HSE, National Hepatitis C Strategy, 2011-2014
Www.HepInfo.ie

About Community Response

Community Response was established in 1990, based in the Liberties in the South Inner City of Dublin and provides a comprehensive programme for primary alcohol and hepatitis C services. It offers a range of services in relation to hepatitis C, group support and education, one-to-one support and referral pathways to treatment. It also provides structured programmes for those affected by alcohol misuse and support for family members.

About HIV Ireland

HIV Ireland is a registered charity operating at local, National and European level. The principal aim of the organisation is to improve, through a range of support services, conditions for people living with HIV and Hepatitis, their families and their caregivers while further promoting sexual health in the general population.

Our mission and vision is to contribute towards a significant reduction in the incidence and prevalence of HIV in Ireland and towards the realisation of an AIDS-free generation by advocating for individuals living with HIV, preventing new HIV infections and combating HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

Since 1987 HIV Ireland (formerly Dublin AIDS Alliance) has been pioneering services in sexual health education and promotion, and has consistently engaged in lobbying and campaigning in the promotion of human rights. Our approach broadly reflects a harm minimisation model which emphasises practical rather than idealised goals. For more information visit www.hivireland.ie

About UISCE

UISCE (Union for Improved Services Communication and Education) are an advocacy and lobby group for drug users is based in the North Inner City. UISCE work to ensure that those in need of services have their voice heard by policy-makers and practitioners. UISCE represent the voice of drug users both locally and nationally. Key activities include highlighting relevant issues affecting drug users and users of drug service gathering and disseminating information to relevant bodies and facilitating the participation of drug users in local structures to improve access to, and quality of, services in the local area.

About AbbVie

AbbVie is a global research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott. It employs more than 400 people at five manufacturing and commercial sites across Ireland. The company’s commercial headquarters is based in Dublin, as is a European manufacturing and engineering services headquarters. AbbVie has two manufacturing plants in Sligo and one in Cork. The company’s mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world’s most complex and serious diseases. Together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmacyclics, AbbVie employs more than 28,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries.

For further information on the company and its people, portfolio and commitments, please visit www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter or view careers on our Facebook or LinkedIn page.

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