This week, we got a message from the folks at hivdating.ca – an online dating service for people living with HIV in Canada.  They were asking us to advertise by providing a link on our site.  We can’t do that, but I thought hey, now there’s a great topic for a blog post!  Dating is pretty universally accepted as “difficult”, because of the pressure to impress.  We all have things about ourselves that we would rather not share, but whether you’re hoping to hook up or looking for true love, you will undoubtedly need to share some of them.  HIV and STIs are definitely on the must-share list.  Long term romantic relationships depend on trust, and as soon as sex is on the agenda, there is a legal obligation to disclose HIV status.  The thought of disclosure and possible rejection is enough to turn anybody off of dating, but it shouldn’t be that way.

(more…)

There has been a flurry of events in recent weeks aimed at connecting immigrants and refugees with the health and social services that are available.  At PWN, finding a way to reach immigrant women who are living with or at risk for HIV is like the Holy Grail.  I had the distinct (and somewhat accidental) pleasure of attending three recent intercultural events.  All were successful events at which I learned a lot and make some connections that I think will be useful in future.  But I came home with dozens of business cards, highlighted notes, and ideas that are completely disconnected, and it got me thinking about Canadian multiculturalism, the joys and challenges of Vancouver’s diversity, and the overwhelming sense of disconnectedness that newcomers must feel.

(more…)

 
For women with HIV who are contemplating pregnancy, thankfully there’s great care and support here in BC. With medical care and HIV treatment, the likelihood of having a baby with HIV is less than 1%. Dr. Jack Forbes of Oak Tree Clinic reported at the recent CAHR conference on perinatal infection rates in Canada between 1997 and 2009, and for women who took the full recommended treatment during pregnancy, the transmission rate was0.7%. 

Positive women are having multiple healthy children and enjoying the joys and challenges of parenting. But being an HIV+ mom and dealing with questions from people who might not know about HIV can be stressful. Questions around breastfeeding alone can be tricky for women who haven’t disclosed to everyone in their community and wish to maintain their confidentiality.

(more…)

What creates “community"? This is a question that was on my mind the other night at AccolAIDS, as I sat surrounded by warmth of spirit, laughter and fantastic people at BC Persons with AIDS Society’s fundraising event. I was so happy for the people who were nominated for their work, and tickled that some true friends got to take the stage and speak about what they do with amazing dedication. What I saw in that room was a mix of PWAs, health care providers, pharmaceutical reps, donors, and other community folks who are both paid staff and volunteers. This mix of people and passions creates supportive, kind, educational nets that the weary can fall into when necessary. Nets that provide firm enough footing to take another step. Nets that provide a wall to back up against when you need a vantage point for perspective.

(more…)

The days are getting longer (we did just “spring ahead” after all), the sun shines now and again, and my hay fever is driving me crazy … yes, it must be Spring. At Positive Women’s Network, that means SpringBoard! Join us for our annual conference, on Thursday April 22nd, from 4:00pm onward, at the Century Plaza Hotel (1015 Burrard St) in Vancouver.

(more…)

Just back from a conference in Montreal, I’m a little tired, sweetly full of things to follow up on, and amused by the fact that because of the damp, it feels colder here than it did “back East.” The Canadian AIDS Society Leading Together 2010 conference attracted people from all across the country to share knowledge, network and band together to discuss the challenges faced by PHAs.

How to grab the energy of what happened? The great passion with which people address the homophobia, the serophobia, sexism, discrimination and even the glorious advances in treatment that spell better, longer lives for PHAs was revealed in posters, workshops, plenaries, and displays.

(more…)

When I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming rich and famous so that I could single-handedly save the world.  At the top of my “world that needs saving” list was a little Caribbean country called Haiti—“the poorest country in the world”, as I had been told.  I am no longer a little girl, and instead of being rich and famous, I work in the humble HIV prevention field.  While I no longer believe it’s a one-woman gig, Haiti is still near the top of my “world that needs saving” list.  Haiti has the highest HIV infection rates in the Caribbean and is second only to the worst affected sub-Saharan African countries on a world scale.  The January 12th earthquake is being called one of the most devastating natural disasters in human history, and we are all bombarded with news and images.  In hopes of blogging something original, I have tried to focus my attention on how the HIV/AIDS community is responding to the quake.

(more…)

Many years ago I read an essay about women in Vietnam working to rebuild connections and communities after the Americans pulled out. Someone criticized their efforts, saying they were as useless as water. But the women responded that water is a great force: just look what it can to do stone over time. I may not have the quote perfectly cited, but it captures the idea that has stuck with me all these year. I believe in the power of every woman. Even what looks like the smallest gesture is connected to other gestures and actions, and has the capacity to make great change.

(more…)

I’ve worked at PWN for 16 years now, and it’s been an incredible privilege to do so. I’ve seen the treatments options for HIV develop, change lives and make new generations possible. Most importantly, I’ve been witness to many women’s stories. I have been the lucky ears to hold the details of diagnosis, disclosure, and adjusting to life with HIV. I’ve heard fears and uncertainty. I’ve heard about challenges met and managed, discovered love, babies. My latest project, You Should Know,  is partly based on the gift of these many stories.

(more…)

Last week’s retreat was another huge success and many women came away connected and recharged, according to the evaluations. Retreats are unlike any other thing we offer. They are a whole weekend of symbolic unpacking by a variety of women with a range of life experiences (one attendee commented on the diversity of women and how well everyone got along). Women unpack their sadness of being diagnosed and feeling they can never look at life with hope again. Women can unpack their worries about going on treatment and how it might affect their bodies. Women unpack their long-term experiences with HIV, how they have made changes and stayed healthy. Women unpack their vulnerabilities and their successes, and share them.

(more…)