Campaigns and Projects

Access Denied

The Issue

Approximately 40 million people are living with HIV and AIDS globally, and around 6.7 million people are in urgent need of life saving treatment. Without access to key medicines, countries are losing their teachers, nurses and farmers. Children are losing their parents. Parents are losing their children.

But it does not have to be like this. In 2005 the UK led world leaders in promising HIV treatment for all by 2010. Keeping this promise is a matter of life and death for millions.

But the world is failing to meet its commitments. More than 75% of all adults, and 90% of children, who urgently need treatment are not receiving it. The high prices of many key medicines, a result of unfair trade rules, are a key reason for this.

If the global commitment is to be met, urgent action is required to fully finance the global effort, invest in strong developing country health systems, and make essential medicines affordable for all.

If you wish to help us, you can…

  1. write to your MP — find the contact details for your local MP;
  2. fill in the Access Denied postcards available in the Student Union or Medical School during the next World AIDS Week;
  3. email Hilary Benn (Secretary of State for International Development) using this form; or
  4. join in Newcastle Stop AIDS activities – you can find these on the News section.

See Mike’s presentation: AIDS Drugs and Our Campaigns 2006.

Schools Project

We have a project that offers schools and after-school clubs a session for Years 7 to 13 on HIV/AIDS with the following aims in mind:

  1. To identify and discuss the facts and misinformation about HIV/AIDS and its transmission;
  2. To understand that HIV/AIDS is non-discriminatory in those it affects;
  3. To discuss the effects of prejudice and discrimination on HIV/AIDS sufferers and to discuss where these views arise from;
  4. To learn about HIV/AIDS in a global health context and to understand that poverty and lack of access to healthcare and education has a bigrole to play in the spread of the disease.

A group from the Stop AIDS Society Newcastle can facilitate a session made up of games, activities and quizes which have the above aims in mind. The session aims to be fun yet informative and to challenge the kids to think a bit about their ideas on HIV/AIDS. We have a range of activities which can be put together depending on what the school wants from the session.

If you are interested in getting involved or you are in a school that would like Stop AIDS Society Newcastle to facilitate a session as outlined above please contact newcastle.stopaids@ncl.ac.uk

See some photos from an after school club for younger children:Wall display