AISD SUPPORTS "IT STARTS WITH ME" CAMPAIGN

HIV spread in England 'could 

be halted within generation'

The campaign will run for two years

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There are around 100,000 people living with HIV in England and about 1000 in Nottingham/shire. One person in four does not know they have it.

People in African communities and men who have sex with men(msm) make up three-quarters of cases.

Focused screening and information for high-risk groups could end the epidemic, experts say.

The new It Starts With Me campaign, created by the Terrence Higgins Trust, in Partnership with the African Institute for Social Development(AISD) and many other partners across the country urges people in high-risk groups to get tested for HIV at least every 12 months, and more frequently if they have symptoms or have put themselves at risk by having unprotected sex, for example.

Effective treatment

Sir Nick Partridge, chief executive at the trust, said: "While a cure or vaccine for HIV remains stubbornly out of reach, what many people don't realise is that medical advances mean it is now within our grasp to stop the virus in its tracks.

"By getting as many people with HIV as possible tested and on effective treatment, we should see new infection rates fall rapidly."

He said that to succeed people need to understand that HIV is just as relevant an issue today as it was in 1982.

"Someone, somewhere in the UK is diagnosed with HIV every 90 minutes. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to keep ourselves and each other safe."

"We can now stop HIV as HIV testing is getting easier and free, combine with free Treatment for all regardless of their immigration status and regular and appropriate condom use these are ways to start the stoppage of  HIV in our community" Said Mr Amdani Juma, the Director of the African Institute for Social Development(AISD). AISD is an African Community Based Organisation(CBO) in Nottingham City and it is part of HIV Prevention England(HPE) in the East Midlands region.  

Challenging New Family Reunion Rules in the UK

• Immigration Rules affect Africans British, European on daily basis:

This article would answer the many queries presented by our clients that we  have been sending africans to Immigration Services and Solicitors for.

The rules present a massive challenge to African newly married couples and families who are living separately and would like to join their sponsor farther or mother already in the UK. While employment is getting less and less and  living costs are rising for many families, it is even harder and dearer if two parents are living separately. The African Institute supports those who are calling on the UK Government to look again at the new family reunion rules in the UK which some MPs believe as irrational and discriminatory. the are threatening to use both administrative and european courts route.

  

Mr Juma argues that immigration pressures
can lead to health inequalities and families
perform well where both parents are involved
in securing right balance on regular contacts
that  allow security,love, education, income
and other social benefits where two parents
 play a role and create a full and sound child. 

• Primary sponsor: Galloway, George
• Sponsors:
  That this House notes that the new family immigration rules impose a minimum earnings requirement of 18,600, with an additional 3,800 for the first child and 2,400 for each additional child, in respect of partners and children from outside the EU seeking to join their partners and parents resident in the UK; further notes that the sponsoring partner is subject to enforced separation in that she or he is required to work in the UK for at least six months before the application can be made; further notes that the new immigration rules are to be challenged in the Administrative Court in Birmingham from 5 to 8 February 2013; believes that the new immigration rules are irrational and discriminate against British citizens, those settled in the UK and those with refugee or humanitarian protection leave on grounds including gender and race-ethnicity; further believes that the new rules are preventing British and settled families on lower incomes from being reunitedand enjoying family life with their non-EEA family members contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights and other international instruments; and calls on the Government immediately to withdraw that aspect of the new family immigration rules which impose the minimum earnings requirement reverting back to the predecessor rule which adequately ensured that there was no recourse to public funds.