Julie Wray writes about Children with HIV

I read with sadness the article in The Observer on 13.7.08 ‘HIV children turned away from schools’ by Jacqui Thornton. My attention was drawn to the ignorance and controversy facing many children living with HIV and their right to be educated. According to Thornton many teachers, schools and local education authorities are practising with fear and ignorance about the consequences of allowing children with HIV to attend school. It appears that some children are being refused a school place, or upon learning that a child has HIV, are asked to leave, or breaches of confidentiality are occurring. Examples from real cases highlight that the main issues are mostly based upon fear, fear of transmission and confidentiality in relation to the child and family. I have to say I was quite shocked that such fear exists especially as such practice is contrary to the facts and knowledge that are well known and published about HIV.

A few facts:

• There are about 1,500 children living with HIV in the UK, including 1,000 under 15.
  
• On average just over 100 children are diagnosed with HIV in the UK each year.
  
• HIV cannot be passed on by spiting, biting, small cuts or grazes, sharing utensils or toilet seats.


• Resources for teachers about HIV in schools are available from http://www.nat.org.uk/
  
  The National Aids Trust is campaigning to improve things for individual families and children. If you are able to support and make comment do contact the National Aids Trust at http://www.nat.org.uk/
  
  Contraception Education works with schools and teachers provides resources and workshops to inform and educate people about all sexual health matters, including HIV, in particular "Safer Sex: An Interactive Learning Resource" on Video and DVD produced in collaboration with Brook Manchester and "Play-it-Safe" a CD game developed specifically for South Africa

Durex Press Release for National Condom Week

DON’T BE BLINDED BY LOVE, SAYS DUREX

Love is blind, or so the old saying goes, but this year, as part of National Condom, Durex is launching a safer sex pack designed to open young peoples’ eyes to the risks associated with having unprotected sex.
The pack has been designed by Samuel Michael (22) of University College Falmouth – winner of an online competition run by Durex. The condom company challenged students across the UK to design a poster that would encourage their peers to ‘play safer’. They received over 500 entries and nearly 15,000 people visited the website.

The winner produced a series of four posters entitled ‘Love is Blind’, voted by the online audience. Thousands of campaign packs have been developed and contain postcard-sized handouts of the winning poster and runner up entries, and are available free of charge during National Condom Week.

When asked about the motivation behind his idea Samuel said: "I wanted to come up with something that would resonate strongly with young people and make them realise that they don't want to catch these diseases - and how important it is to use protection all of the time."
Thousands of the posters will be displayed up and down the country throughout National Condom Week, in pubs, clubs, student unions and student accommodation, as well as NHS sexual health centres, clinics, GP surgeries and family planning centres.

The campaign, an annual initiative aimed at promoting safer sex and encouraging 16-24-year-olds to get the condom habit, has the full support of all the UK’s major sexual health charities.
Brook Advisory, National Aids Trust and the Terrence Higgins Trust will be displaying campaign material at their centres and outreach workers will be using the materials in their workshops.
Caroline Green, brand manager at Durex, said: "National Condom Week is a chance to get everyone thinking about the importance of safer sex. The Durex Global Sex Survey showed that just over 52% of people in the UK have had unprotected sex without knowing the sexual health of their partner. We want people to feel comfortable using and talking about condoms. Carrying a condom should be as normal as carrying your mobile phone or your wallet."

To order poster packs, please visit http://www.durexchange.com/
For further information please contact Vanessa Munnings or Georgina Barnes at Myriad PR on 01353 669939 or email georgina.barnes@myriadpr.com / vanessa.munnings@myriadpr.com
Photos of Samuel Michael and his winning designs are available from Myriad PR.
Ends

Quotes from our campaign partners
Deborah Jack, chief executive, National AIDS Trust:
"Durex National Condom Week is a great opportunity to get people talking about condoms and safer sex. Condoms remain the only effective way to prevent HIV transmission when having sex. Yet our recent Public Attitudes Survey showed that 24% of the British public do not use a condom with a new partner as a matter of course. Getting young people talking about condoms and safer sex is the first step towards equipping them with the knowledge they need to protect themselves and make wise choices in their life."

Julie Bentley, chief executive, fpa:
"We are pleased to support National Condom Week. The standard of entries to the poster competition is very impressive and illustrates how important sexual health is to people. Creative poster designs have been combined with powerful messaging, both essential tools in promoting good sexual health."

Simon Blake, chief executive, Brook Advisory Centres:
"Brook is really pleased to support NCW this year. It is an important initiative to raise the profile and importance of condoms among young people, in which Durex does just that. We are particularly pleased that young people have been involved in the development of this campaign."
Ama Uzowuru, vice-president (welfare), NUS:
"The current STI climate we are in highlights the importance such a week. With materials designed by young people for young people showing what they feel is the perfect way to get the message of safer sex across in a positive approach."

Julie Douglas, Marie Stopes International:
"We are delighted to support National Condom Week. We are particularly pleased that this year’s campaign is targeting young people and making them think about the need to protect themselves. These messages cannot be repeated enough, and must be heard and acted upon if we are to begin to tackle the unprecedented rates of unplanned pregnancy and infection that affects our young generation."

Lisa Power, head of policy, Terrence Higgins Trust:
"National Condom Week is a perfect opportunity to raise awareness of safer sex. Most of us have sex eventually as we grow up and we want young people to be knowledgeable and confident about protecting themselves, for when it happens. We also want them to know that they can contact THT if they need advice or support around any issue to do with sexual health."