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Western Europe

Contact Information

Regional Focal Point
  • Nathalie Carter, United Kingdom - (Profile)


  • To join the Western Europe regional email list, please send a blank email to GYCA-WesternEurope-subscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org

    Background

    Approximately 740 000 [580 000–970 000] people were living with HIV in Western and Central Europe in 2006. In Western Europe, just over one third (35%) of HIV infections diagnosed in 2005 occurred during sex between men, while more than half (56%) were acquired during heterosexual intercourse. About three quarters of heterosexually acquired HIV infections were among immigrants and migrants (EuroHIV, 2006a).




    Regional News


    Chronic Disease and African Communities: Research, Policy and Practice

    Nathalie Carter, Western Europe RFP, recently presented an abstract at the second annual workshop of the UK-Africa partnership on chronic diseases, which took place at the London School of Economics and Political Science 23rd-24th June 2008. The workshop was well attended by postgraduate MSC students; doctoral researchers, medical doctors, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, nutritionists and other professionals in the field, and speakers from a range of countries including the UK, Denmark, The Netherlands, Ghana, South Africa and Kenya. Although the number of presenters under twenty five were a minority, effort was made to include several oral and poster presentations from MSC students.

    Nathalie’s abstract on African children and families living with HIV and AIDS was based on her observations from two years work within support organizations in South London, primarily Positive Parenting and Children and The London Ecumenical AIDS Trust. The majority of the families face multiple disadvantages, especially poverty and ill health, which contribute to other social and educational difficulties.

    Alive, Kicking and Connected!

    A group of young people living HIV and AIDS in London have developed a interactive website, http://crib.ppclondon.org.uk, launched on April 30th. The support group, self titled CRIB (Chasing Rainbows Is Our Business) was set up in 2004 through the charity Positive Parenting and Children www.ppclondon.org.uk to respond to the gap in peer support for adolescents living with HIV. The group meets twice per month in South London and current members range from the ages of eleven to nineteen.

    A display by the CRIB group


    The website was suggested by the young people out a desire to educate other young people and to offer support and outreach to youth living with HIV and AIDS who are not able to access a support group. The website offers and introduction to the group including personal stories from individual members; a DVD aimed at challenging discrimination and a chat online forum similar to MSN.

    The launch event was well attended by staff from Positive Parenting and Children, members of group, Funders such as the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Capital Radio’s Help a London Child; along with professionals from the medical and social care sector across London.