NAPWA

Bold New Plans

In June this year, I had the opportunity to the represent HIV positive people of Australia at a UN special session on HIV. The meeting coincided with the 30th anniversary of the first public report of AIDS in June 1981.

NAPWA’s president, Robert Mitchell,reports back from the UN special session on HIV in New York. read more »

Disability Support Pension overhaul

People applying for the disability support pension (DSP) will soon be assessed under strict new criteria to be introduced by Centrelink.

From January next year, the government plans to introduce new impairment tables to assess the severity of impact a medical condition has on a person's level of ability to work. read more »

PM confronted with PBS deferrals

Federal Cabinet decided in February that it would now review all drugs recommended for listing on the PBS[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Council.

As a result, a growing number of medications that would otherwise be available to treat people in Australia are currently on hold in Canberra with no timeline for final listing. read more »

Medicare Ineligibles Access Study starting in October

One hundred and eighty HIV positive people who do not have access to subsidised antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. drugs on the PBS[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. will soon receive free treatment over 48 months, when a long anticipated study commences recruitment in early October. read more »

The ongoing effects of efavirenz

Neuropsychiatric side effects are a common problem for people on efavirenz (EFV), but a study reported last year reveals just how common they are, and how long they last.

The SENSE trial was designed to evaluate whether 12 weeks of treatment with once-daily etravirine (ETR) plus 2NRTIs would lead to fewer neuropsychiatric adverse events than treatment with efavirenz plus 2NRTIs. read more »

Australian trial may point to future cure

A groundbreaking study underway in Melbourne aims to show that a potential new HIV treatment is able to do what current antiretroviralsA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. cannot: eradicate HIV from latently infected cells.

Kirsty Machon reports on some exciting new research. read more »

Women want action

Currently, the female condom is the only female initiated method providing protection from HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies.

But NAPWA’s National Network of Women Living with HIV is concerned about its ongoing lack of availability in Australia. read more »

Take a statin, don’t die

Johns Hopkins University researchers in the US have noticed that PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHA. in an observational cohortIn epidemiology, a group of individuals with some characteristics in common. A cohort study is a special kind of clinical trial which looks at a treatment or treatment strategy in a cohort of people. who took a statin as well as their antiretroviralsA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. were less likely to die than those who didn’t.

Out of 1538 PLHIV, 238 (15.5%) took a statin along with their HAARTHighly Active AntiRetroviral Therapy ??? aggressive treatment of HIV infection using several different drugs together. and by the end of the study there were 85 deaths (seven in statin users and 78 in non-users). read more »

HIV and ageing: is it premature?

A 25-year-old who is diagnosed with HIV today has roughly the same life expectancy as someone of the same age who does not have the disease.

So began Dr Anton Pozniak, an HIV specialist from the UK, who spoke to a group of Australian HIV doctors in Sydney, recently.

His theme was HIV and ageing and whether we were all being a bit premature worrying about the issue. read more »

Tenofovir vs abacavir: the saga continues

Compared to abacavir, tenofovir does increase bone mineral density (BMD) loss but not fracture risk, according to the results from the STEAL trial reported at the IAS Conference in Rome. read more »

Treatments Briefs

New treatment briefs

Adrian Ogier gives the low-down on latest antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. treatments. read more »

Understanding why people don't treat

NAPWA's Research Unit wants to find out why some people with HIV decide not to use antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. treatment. read more »

So how infectious are we really?

Most HIV positive people share a common fear. Namely, that we don’t want to transmit this virusA small infective organism which is incapable of reproducing outside a host cell. on to anyone else. The fear is probably most intense for people in a serodiscordant relationship, but it remains a real concern for all of us. read more »

You never know your luck

James May thinks that finding intimacy is one of the biggest challenges for people living with HIV.

While it can be tough for anyone to form a lasting connection, having HIV can make it even tougher. HIV can undermine your self esteem and your sexuality. And while things may be looking up these days, it is still really hard to disclose your status. read more »

Tales from the Network

Tales from the Network

Mark Stephens believes that everyone deserves access to credible information regarding the medications they take and their side effects so we can all make informed decisions about our treatment and care. read more »

Gentle Exercise

Vicky Fisher suggests adding standing and balancing poses to your yoga practice for Spring.

Standing poses strengthen the ankles, legs, knees, hips and abdominal muscles. balancing poses help with concentration, build self-confidence and develop stamina. if you doubt your leg or ankle strength, you can try the next three poses using a wall for support. read more »

Mailbox

We received letters commenting on our tribute to Elizabeth Taylor, and two on vaccine research. read more »