mand that everyone who wants to see an end to AIDS must raise.
Even with the best educa tion schemes, without immunisation or cure, there will always be new cases of HIV infection, each case a personal tragedy. The sta tistics mask the wound which AIDS has inflicted on the gay community and on entire nations unable to cope with the economic effects of a high proportion of the population with weakened immune systems.
Developing drugs and vaccines to combat HIV is the route to ending that individ ual and collective devasta tion.
Yet drug companies are concerned only with the profits they can reap from the AIDS crisis.
When a drug trial found that AZT was less useful than thought, Welcome -the company that developed the drug - was more worried about the blow to their share prices than the effect on the morale of peo ple with HIV taking AZT.
Competing with each other, the drug companies, keep their research top se cret, wasting money and ences. more importantly time as scientists all around the world try to find a cure in isolation.
Meanwhile people who are diagnosed HIV positive are advised to avoid stress to delay the onset of AIDS. Not so easy when a positive diagnosis means discrimi• Kate Abreas Don't be dumb Don't be coy Don't be intimidated profit. drug trials Men under 21 have not provision. people's real needs Carrying condoms is bring about a for prostitution people with HIV and AIDS repayments Access to information about safer sex and drug use, regardless of age and sexual orientation, and especially for young gay men particularly at risk.
Distribution of free condoms De-criminalise prostitution, no more convictions for carrying condoms Free needle exchange schemes 2. To Find A Cure Drug research should be run by the state for the public good, not by private companies for the cause of Open up the files on the state of End discrimination against people living with AIDS or HIV, in the workplace, in housing, in education, in immigration law and insurance Benefit levels should take account of Give the NHS the funding needed for comprehensive health care of Fight poverty in the 'Third World', prioritising health care over debt
3. lo improve lite expectancy and quality of lite for people living with AIDS and HIV