Newsletter September 2014

Transcription

1 ! A Newsletter September 2014 emerald.gibson@gmail.com Contents 1. THEODORE TED GAUDET 2. Thanks and Memories of and for Ted 3. Scotiabank AIDS Walk For Life 4. What s Been Going on? 5. Treatment Info and News 6. Word From the Chair AIDS New Brunswick 65 Brunswick St, Suite G 17 Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 1G5 Toll free: ext 105 THEODORE TED GAUDET In this issue we want to pay our respects to Ted who passed away late June in Fredericton, NB. He was a mentor and a friend to many of us, but when you look at it as I do, a brother who did everything not to let his family down. Ted Gaudet was a leader, a mentor, and a friend to many in the HIV/AIDS movement in Canada. For a quarter of a century, Ted lived with HIV. He did not let it define him, he defined his response to this illness and he became involved in the response to HIV locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. He worked to fight the stigma, discrimination, and misunderstanding the helps to make this disease such a burden for so many who are touched by it. As a leader in the movement he was acknowledged with many awards, including the most recent awarding of the Canadian AIDS Society Leadership Award earlier this month. He was involved with many boards and committees, was the president of AIDS New Brunswick, was a part of GNP+NA and was an active member in the many communities he was a part of. Surrounded by family and friends, Ted lived a good life and he will be missed by many.

2 Thanks and Memories of and for Ted Ted s Family: We wish to express our appreciation for the beautiful flowers sent on behalf of New Brunswick PHA s, AIDS New Brunswick and the Canadian AIDS Society. Thank you to all of you who were able to attend the visitation and the funeral from around the province. Your presence would have meant a lot to Teddy. We appreciate all you ve done during his illness and after his passing. Al McNutt Chair of the Canadian AIDS Society (CAS): Ted Gaudet what can I say other than he was a true champion within the HIV/AIDS movement, not only in the Atlantic Region, but across the country. Ted would never say a challenge was too great or out of reach he would find a way to make it happen. His smile would light up a room. Danny Clavette, Past Chair Health and Wellness Committee : Ted was a true leader and to some of us, a father. No goal was too big to achieve. Ted was a motivator, a man of action, whom, by his strength, determination and hard work, changed the life of generations of PHA s in New Brunswick. Emerald Gibson, Vice- President of AIDS New Brunswick / Chair Health and Wellness Committee : Ted was a friend and mentor to PHA s in New Brunswick. He stepped up to the plate to do what was best for others, setting aside his own needs. Laurel Sprague, Former Board Member Global Network of Persons Living with HIV and AIDS (GNP+): Ted Gaudet was a lovely human being who was committed heart and soul to the health and well- being of people living with HIV. He is greatly missed. Scotiabank AIDS Walk For Life Please register for the walk and join the Health and Wellness Committee Team or healthandwellness@aidsnb.com for a direct team invite

3 What s Been Going on? I wish to inform you with regret that Diedre Smith has resigned her position as Support programs Manager as of August 22, In discussion with the principal funder of this position, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Support Program will undergo an evaluation with the aim of modifying the position to better reflect the broadened mandate of our organization. All direct support initiatives, PHA Emergency Fund, Positive Nutrition Program, and Jocelyn Paul Skills Building Fund will continue under the direction of Stephen Alexander. All other initiatives will fall under review. This review should be completed by the beginning of October after which a new job description will be created and the position filled. Please contact Stephen Alexander with questions and concerns. Our best wishes go out to Diedre in her future endeavors. Treatment Info and News: CATIE News - Canadian researchers point to CMV as a problem for the immune system The widespread availability of potent anti- HIV combination therapy (commonly called ART or HAART) has led to improved health and prospects of prolonged survival among many HIV- positive people in Canada and other high- income countries. ART works by greatly suppressing production of HIV. This allows the body to begin repairs to the immune system, leading to increased levels of T- cells. However, ART does not completely restore the immune system and the reasons for this are under investigation. Researchers in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia have been conducting studies of the immune system to try to understand the impact of HIV and other viruses. Their findings suggest that co- infection with a member of the herpes virus family, CMV (cytomegalovirus), may be partially responsible for the incomplete recovery of the immune systems of ART users. Study details Researchers recruited HIV- positive participants between December 1995 and Sept 2013 for this study. Participants were screened for CMV co- infection (by the presence of antibodies in their blood) and distributed as follows: HIV positive and co- infected with CMV 97 men, 29 women HIV positive only 17 men, 10 women In general, participants had been HIV positive for at least 10 years and they were between 40 and 53 years old. For more information on this project and other CATIE info visit the web site at CATIE is a valuable resource of information to the community. Printed information is available to be mailed to you through their secured

4 A Word from the Chair I am coming to you today as the newly elected Chair of the Health and Wellness Committee. Over the past few months there has been many changes in our lives and the direction this committee will have to take. Federal Government resources (Public Money) for AIDS NB are not as easily available and there are specific restrictions as to how public funded dollars funds are spent. The organization has to face a new direction, open its doors, operations and mind set to the needs of not just those of us living with HIV/AIDS but others diseases such as Hep C, all Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections (STBBI), Mental Health Issues and Stigma and Discrimination. As much as many of us are not going to be happy about these changes there is a new reality out there that we all have to look at and face. We have no choice as per federal funding requirements but to accept it and open our minds to what this can do, not just for us but AIDS NB as a whole. All fundraised dollars from the Scotiabank AIDS Walk For Life are used to enhance the programs for direct support to PHA s, ie; Support Fund, Jocelyn Paul Skills Building Fund, Spring Forum and Fall Gathering. The continuation of these programs will directly depend on the amount of monies raised by the Walk. These funds are used to enhance the direct services that affect us and help us to fill the gap and get over the hurdle with the Federal Funding changes that are happening. As we all know the PHA Forum and Retreat is an essential component for PHAs. The lack of resources available make this difficult to put together but we will do our best to continue to have these important events to the PHA community. It is my hope that this year s Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life will be successful enough that we will have our fall retreat this year to provide an opportunity for us to gather one more time and learn, but also meet to discuss the issues of the day. Over the summer things have changed also for me. I broke my left ankle and have spent 4 weeks in a cast with the possibility of surgery still on the horizon in the fall for me. I was appointed as the Atlantic Regional Representative to Global Network of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS GNP+, I serve as the New Brunswick and PEI Representative CTAC s Policy Advisory Task Force. I hope you all had a great summer and look forward to seeing you all soon. Please, if you have not yet done so already, join the Health and Wellness Committee Scotiabank AIDS Walk For Life Team. If you are not sure send an to our committee address on page one and we will contact you by phone or e- mail with the link.

5 Emerald Become Involved! If you are interested in joining the Health and Wellness Committee or to participate in the planning of the next retreat or form please contact our chair or the Executive Director Stephen Alexander. address and contact information is provided on the last page. If you have a submission for the newsletter, article or special announcement of note forward it on to the address below or by mail for the next newsletter release in early December. Health & Wellness Steering Committee Contact Information support@aidsnb.com & healthandwellness@aidsnb.com Members: Emerald, Tom, Dave, François AIDS New Brunswick Staff Contact Info: Fredericton/Miramichi office: Toll Free (in NB) Stephen Alexander: Executive Director StephenA@aidsnb.com ext. 105 Keri- Ann Scott: Operations Coordinator keri- ann@aidsnb.com ext. 101 Matt Smith: Prevention Program Manager matt@aidsnb.com ext. 102 Jessi Taylor: Education Program Manager jessi@aidsnb.com ext. 104