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Media Release: 1 Dec 04

HIV Positive Women have a different story to tell

Eight years ago Julie was diagnosed as HIV Positive. Shocked by the test results, Lisa had never considered HIV to be an issue for her, as she was a heterosexual woman living in a long-term monogamous relationship. Lisa’s story is just one of many coming to light as part of the December 1, 2004 World AIDS Day campaign, this year focussing on Women and Girls.

Annette Bowen, HIV/AIDS Health Promotion Officer with Healthy Cities Illawarra, says that “as approximately half of the 38 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world are women, it is imperative that there is more research and investment into alternative preventative methods such as microbicides, which can be used like a spermicide”. Biologically women are twice more likely to contract HIV from a single act of unprotected sex, and they still remain dependent on male cooperation to protect themselves from infection. Gender inequalities in social and economic status also increase women’s vulnerability to HIV

For Julie, the terrible truth came out when her partner and her both fell sick. He had had a brief affair whilst in Asia on a business trip, and didn’t use a condom. Afterwards, in denial of the risks associated with the affair, he came back to Julie, and she not knowing, continued to only use the pill as an contraceptive. Over time, Julie has lost a lot, at times her health, her relationship, even friends and eventually her job.

Several years ago Julie made the sea change from Sydney to Wollongong, “to get out of the rat race to a relaxed and beautiful place, it’s been the best choice I ever made, and I can receive excellent support and treatment from services such as the Sexual Health Service, Women’s Health Services and ACON”.

However, Julie still feels that fear, stigma and discrimination around HIV is still widespread. Recently she attended a friend’s retro party, where a few people knew her HIV status. Afterwards those friends acted reserved with her. Finally Julie asked what was wrong, and was told that she had put them at risk of contracting HIV through sharing the cheese fondue. Lisa says, “at first I laughed, I thought my friends to be well educated people, HIV can only be contracted from blood to blood, unsafe sex, and from mother to baby.”

With the support of local services, and a newly found relationship, Julie now faces each day more optimistically. “I am hopeful about the future, but the complexity of treatment options combined with my passion for a healthy lifestyle, and dreams of having a family one day, really are a mine field”.

For this World AIDS Day, Annette Bowen, seeks to remind people “we are lucky in Australia to have access to advanced medical treatments, helping some of our HIV Positive people to live better, but as HIV/AIDS cuts across borders, it is a global issue and we should be playing a larger role in fighting this disease. You can show you care by buying a red ribbon for World AIDS Day December 1s, ,

For further information contact the Sexual Health Service, Port Kembla Hospital on 42762399 or the Nowra Service on 44239353 or ACON Illawarra on 42261163.

For a Photo opportunity contact Annette on 42265000Or the sexual health service on 42762399 or acon on 42261163