What’s New?
Canadian HIV Stigma Index - Call For Participants
The HIV Stigma Index is a research and community-building tool used in more than 90 countries worldwide. It is now being implemented in Ontario by a diverse team comprised of community-based representatives, service providers, and academics through St. Michael’s hospital.
Purpose of the Study
The aim of the HIV Stigma Index is to collect information about the experiences of people living with HIV related to stigma, discrimination, and human rights.
Research Process
The HIV Stigma Index is a peer-driven project: It has been developed and implemented by people living with HIV, which means that the Index questions will be asked by another person living with HIV. The Index is carried out in person, and takes between 1 and 2 hours to complete. All participants will be provided with a $50 honorarium.
Benefits of Participating
In addition to helping inform the wider community about experiences of stigma for people living with HIV, the process of implementing the Stigma Index is empowering.
To participate contact Colt Burrows at 1-877-392-7389 or burrowsco@smh.ca
RHAC will be at Sunfest from July 5th to July 8th!
Knowledge is power, and RHAC couldn’t be more excited to share the powerful theme of ‘knowledge’ at this year’s Sunfest festival. This year’s theme will recognize and promote important advances in the prevention and treatment of HIV, from PrEP to U=U. Come visit our booth during Sunfest to learn more and celebrate health and wellness in our community. We can’t wait to see you!
Location: RHAC Boardroom #30-186 King St, London ON
RHAC is launching a new clinic at 186 King Street to prescribe PrEP: the HIV prevention drug! PrEP is a medication that one can take daily to prevent HIV. PrEP is highly effective when used consistently and correctly. We are happy to announce a partnership with SpecialtyRx to be able to offer this to the community, with a nurse practitioner who will be accepting clients twice a month as of June.
This event is a FREE presentation that will go over the ins and outs of PrEP, and provide an overview of the services we will offer. If you or someone you know is interested in PrEP, or if you’re a service provider, this is a perfect opportunity to learn about our new service!
Please RSVP via the EventBrite link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/prep-clinic-launch-tickets-46323755600
PrEP Clinic Launch Facebook Event
Contact Kody, our Gay Men’s HIV Prevention Worker at kcarlson@hivaidsconnection.ca for more information.
A Heartfelt Evening, hosted by and in support of John Gordon Home, is on Tuesday, May 29th. Funds raised through this event will contribute to providing essential items and services for residents transitioning out of JGH, and back into the community, based on need. These items may include linens, beds, small appliances, other common household itemsand related moving costs.
For more information, visit the event for details.
Join us for the World AIDS Day Vigil in London at Trinity United Church on December 1 (7-8 PM). The event (not including the audience) will also be live-streamed on RHAC's official Facebook.
Join us for the World AIDS Day Vigil in Stratford at Community of Christ on November 30 (7-8:30 PM). The event (not including the audience) will also be live-streamed on RHAC's official Facebook.
Not all sex has the same risk.
Your risk of picking up or passing on HIV depends on the kind of sex you have, your HIV status, your partners HIV status and condom use.
MediaED.org is meant as tool to help gay guys calculate the relative risk of the sex they are having.
In a critical declaration on HIV/AIDS signed last week, UN member states made laudatory pledges toward a host of ambitious goals, most notably aiming to get 15 million people on antiretrovirals by 2015.
The declaration won enthusiastic approval from major AIDS organizations, as well as from mainstream media outlets like the New York Times.
What member states “forgot” to do in that document, however, is include access to medically appropriate housing as a key structural tool in preventing and treating HIV/AIDS.
The omission reflects continued failure by AIDS activists and governments to recognize the crucial role that safe housing will play in ending AIDS. It also demonstrates a flawed emphasis on individual approaches to stopping the virus, rather than a recognition that we need to address larger environmental issues—like homelessness and poverty—to end this crisis.