In a story that generated massive worldwide media interest, public health authorities in New York announced on 11 February that they had detected a single case of an apparent 'new strain' of HIV which could lead to AIDS in months, not years, and was resistant to virtually all antiretroviral drugs.

With HIV advocates still anxiously awaiting the federal government's announcement of plans to restructure the Disability Support Pension (DSP), on 4 March the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission announced a national inquiry into employment for people with disabilities.

Arriving in Port Moresby, you are immediately reminded that HIV in PNG is very different to Australia. Large billboards proclaim Lukautim HIV ("watch out for HIV") and the radio on the short drive to the hotel played ads about HIV.

With Australia’s nearest neighbour, Papua New Guinea, facing the possibility of a catastrophic HIV epidemic, Australian AIDS activists are working with local positive people to ensure their voices are heard.

Sometimes I feel like a bit of an ‘HIV tragic’. I have been involved in HIV organisations and committees related to HIV for more than ten years, over half of my friends are HIV-positive and I spend a good part of every week thinking about the subject in some way or other. I’ve even written for every issue of Positive Living since it became national in 1995.

It's been a while since there was much cause for excitement in the drug pipeline, and even now there's just one anti-HIV drug nearing the end of the development maze. But, says KIRSTY MACHON, a new generation of HIV treatments promises to break the drought.

For most of us, dealing with HIV is enough of a burden. But if you're also living with hepatitis C, decisions about treatment are more complex and taking care of yourself is even more important.

This issue's Backgrounder shows how different drug classes target different stages in the HIV life cycle.

Getting started on treatments is never easy. And sometimes, as SAM PESCI found, it takes a concerted effort to fit treatments into your life.

Do you experience difficulty remembering phone numbers, people's names or appointments? Difficulty concentrating, slowed thinking, taking longer to do complicated tasks or difficulty keeping track of daily activities?