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Positive Living Society of British Columbia (Formally BCPWA)

Choices: A Position Paper on Euthanasia

Publication type: 
Position Paper
Agency: 
BCPWA
Sponsor: 
BCPWA
Date: 
1994-05-10
Pages: 
4
Summary: 
The British Columbia Persons with AIDS Society is mandated to empower their members by respecting each individual's choice regarding euthanasia and advocating for safe access to health services. The Society believes that: each individual should have safe access to medically assisted euthanasia should the individual choose euthanasia as an option; professional counselling should be provided in order that individuals may make an informed decision; euthanasia should be decriminalized; and be a regarded as a universal health service.
Keywords: 
HIV/AIDS; AIDS Services Organizations; BC Persons With AIDS Society; Policy; Euthanasia; Criminal Justice System; Law; Medical Service; Advocacy

Dealing with AIDS in Canada: The Unmet Challnenge. A Brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance regarding fiscal Priorities for the Future.

Publication type: 
Policy Paper / Action Plan
Agency: 
BCPWA
Sponsor: 
BCPWA
Date: 
2003-10-27
Pages: 
11
Summary: 
The British Columbia Persons with AIDS Society presented its position on AIDS funding priorities to the Federal Government on October 27, 2003. The Society believes that up to that point the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS (CHSA) had been successful especially in comparison to other countries. However the Strategy is no longer sufficiently funded especially given HIV's move into new and often more difficult to reach populations. With 4,200 new infections each year, HIV is costing Canada $600 million in direct future medical costs and if the current rate of infection were reduced to 1,700, $1.4 billion would be saved in the next five years. The Society recommends that the budget of the CSHA be increased to $125 million per year to fund the scale of response necessary to beat HIV/AIDS in Canada.
Keywords: 
HIV/AIDS; AIDS Services Organizations; BC Persons With AIDS Society; Economic Policy; Government Policy; Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS (CHSA); HIV Prevention; Funding Cuts

BCPWA's Principle on Sexual Health for HIV+ Persons

Publication type: 
Position Paper
Agency: 
BCPWA
Sponsor: 
BCPWA
Date: 
2003-07-23
Pages: 
2
Summary: 
BCPWA believes in and advocates for the recognition of the worth and dignity of the HIV+ individual. This includes the right of the person living with HIV to have a healthy and fulfilling sexual life in a mature and responsible manner. BCPWA envisions a community whereby HIV+ persons can live free from stigma and discrimination; HIV+ persons act on informed choices; and where our healthy sexual lives are dignified and respectful, and free from fear, shame, guilt, and false beliefs.
Keywords: 
HIV/AIDS; AIDS Services Organizations; BC Persons With AIDS Society; Gay Men; Sexuality; Health Promotion; HIV Prevention; Mental Health; Reproductive Health

British Columbia Persons With AIDS Society Constitution and By-Laws. Consolidated at April 1, 2001

Publication type: 
Miscellaneous
Agency: 
BCPWA
Sponsor: 
BCPWA
Date: 
2001-04-01
Pages: 
11
Summary: 
Constitution and bylaws of the British Columbia Persons with AIDS Society (BCPWA) prior to April 1st, 2001
Keywords: 
HIV/AIDS; AIDS Services Organizations; BC Persons With AIDS Society; Constitution

BC Persons' with AIDS Society Submission to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights regarding Bill c-217, the Blood Samples Act.

Publication type: 
Position Paper
Author(s): 
Hillson, Glen
Agency: 
BCPWA
Sponsor: 
BCPWA
Date: 
2002-02-19
Pages: 
4
Summary: 
Bill C-217, An Act to provide for the taking of samples of blood for the benefit of persons administering and enforcing the law and good Samaritans and to amend the Criminal Code. BCPWA urges the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to report to the House of Commons that the Blood Samples Act not proceed to third reading. The Blood Samples Act will not protect workers from occupational exposure to the hepatitis B virus, the hepatitis C virus and the human immunodeficiency virus. Rather, the Act will promote an environment of false safety among workers and may increase infections among them.
Keywords: 
HIV/AIDS; AIDS Services Organizations; BC Persons With AIDS Society; Government Policy; Human Rights; Health Policy; Workplace; Safety; Hepatitis; HIV Prevention; HIV Prevention; Occupational Health;

Capacity for Change. 2006 Evaluation of the British Columbia Community Based HIV/AIDS Research Capacity Building Program.

Publication type: 
Research Paper / Project Report
Agency: 
BCPWA
Sponsor: 
BCPWA
Date: 
2006-08
Pages: 
30
Summary: 
This report presents the results of the first evaluation of the Community Based Research Capacity Building Program in BC. The purpose of the evaluation was to measure the progress of the BC CBR program in relation to work plans, the institutional environment in which the program functions, the needs of hte stakeholders that the program serves, and the outcomes of the activities of the Research Technical Assistant (RTA) since 2003. The evaluation shows that AIDS Service Organizations and other stakeholders are satisfied with the Program and consider the services of the RTA to be a valuable resource. The program and RTA have assisted organizations in developing research proposals, designing research activities, facilitating and simplifying research issues and tasks, and in understanding and integrating community based research into existing programs and activities. Suggestions for improvement included increased communication with stakeholders to help raise awareness and support for CBR activities, some of which the evaluation itself provided, to inform stakeholders of CBR results and funding opportunities, and a more proactive role of the RTA coordinating and supporting research activities including the acquisition of funding.
Keywords: 
HIV/AIDS; AIDS Services Organizations; BC Persons With AIDS Society; Community-based Research; Capacity-building; Program Development; Program Evaluation; Research design; Research Dissemination; Research Funding; Research Methods

Letter to the Honourable Colin Hansen, Minister of Health Services Re: Review of the Ministry of Health Services Pharmacare Program

Publication type: 
Position Paper
Author(s): 
Hillson, Glen
Agency: 
BCPWA
Sponsor: 
BCPWA
Date: 
2001-09-28
Pages: 
7
Summary: 
In what seemed to be a secretive and arbitrary review of the Pharmacare program of the BC Ministry of Health Services, the BC Persons with AIDS Society provided this unsolicited submission. The Society believes that the process should be open and non-partisan all relevant stakeholders be consulted and that no action should be taken in direct contravention of any clear consonance of public opinion. The government should provide accurate and impartial information on drug costs and spending, accurately identify reasons for rising costs and the contexts in which they are occurring, and identify where changes in Pharmacare would increase acute and chronic care costs.
Keywords: 
HIV/AIDS; BC Persons with AIDS Society; Medications; Policy; Government

Optimal Environments for Integrated Care: Complementary and Alternative Medicine in HIV Management in British Columbia

Publication type: 
Research Paper / Project Report
Author(s): 
Kendall, Tamil
Agency: 
BCPWA
Sponsor: 
Health Canada
Date: 
2001-03
Pages: 
78
Summary: 
The use of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) among persons with HIV has effectively doubled since the advent of HAART, however cost, lack of information and poor communication pose risks. The objectives of this research are to assess PWA and conventional health care provider perception of the risks and benefits of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), to describe communication between PWAs and conventional health care providers about CAM, and to elucidate associated legal and ethical issues, to identify recommendations for improved communication about CAM and the integration of complementary, alternative and conventional medicine. Implementation of such recommendations can optimize the benefits and reduce the risks associated with CAM in the context of HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support. Twenty health care providers were interviewed for this research and 49 persons with AIDS who used CAM participated in focus groups and completed surveys on their use of CAM and communication with health care providers. The results of this research is presented along with a list of prioritized recommendations regarding access to CAM, delivery of care in the form of integrated HIV care clinics, funding research on CAM and educating conventional health care providers about CAM.
Keywords: 
HIV/AIDS; Complimentary Therapy; Education; Health Care; Legal Issues; Ethical Issues

Presentation to the Reference Drug Program Consultation Panel

Publication type: 
Position Paper
Author(s): 
Hillson, Glen
Agency: 
BCPWA
Sponsor: 
BCPWA
Date: 
2002-01-28
Pages: 
4
Summary: 
Text of the presentation made by Glen Hillson on behalf of the BC Persons with AIDS Society to the BC Reference Drug Program Consultation Panel on January 28, 2002. The members of the Society rely on a strong, rations, publicly funded system of drug distribution that ensures equality of access. For such a system to effectively meet the needs of all residents of BC its design must be evidence-based, it must be cost effective and must compliment other facets of the overall health care system to ensure delivery of comprehensive, quality care. Bulk purchasing by Pharmacare and RDP have proven to be the most effective tools currently at our disposal for containing drug costs without adversely impacting health outcomes. The RDP works because the program is evidence-based. Since its inception, intensive independent evaluation has demonstrated that the RDP reduces the overall cost of health care.
Keywords: 
HIV/AIDS; BC Persons with AIDS Society; Medications; Policy; Government

Positive Prevention

Publication type: 
Position Paper
Author(s): 
BCPWA Prevention Sub-Committee
Agency: 
BCPWA
Sponsor: 
BCPWA
Date: 
2003-06
Pages: 
3
Summary: 
What is positive prevention? From the point of view of HIV+ people, the traditional terms for prevention (primary, secondary and tertiary) become unclear. Secondary prevention can mean identification of those infected to prevent further infections, or it can mean provision of support to HIV+ people to develop and maintain risk reduction behaviours. Prevention for positives implies that something is done to or imposed on HIV+ people. The Prevention Sub-Committee of the BC Persons with AIDS Society prefers the term 'positive prevention' because it conveys a sense of ownership and direction by people living with HIV. Prevention efforts previously had been directed almost only towards educating HIV negative people about risk behaviours and the issues faced by HIV+ people were rarely considered. Positive prevention seeks to maximize the physical, mental and sexual health of HIV+ individuals, providing them with the necessary foundation for maintaining safer behaviours.
Keywords: 
HIV/AIDS; HIV/ADS Prevention; BC Persons with AIDS Society; Education; Sexual Behaviour; Health Promotion

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