Invitation: Q-SPACE: Queerama Event
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
On Tuesday, 20 December, 19.30 at KINO SÕPRUS, a new initiative Q-SPACE will hold its first event.
Premiering, is the award winning documentary Queerama a cinematic exploration of LGBTQ+ (in)visibilty and how over time queerness became more and more overtly present in British cinema. The film consists of rare archival material and is masterfully and humorously executed into a montage, charting the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the UK, against the up beat soundtrack provided by John Grant.
After the screening join Daisy Asquith (director of Queerama), Peeter Rebane (director and producer of Firebird) and Heinrich Sepp (artist, performer and radio host of Homokringel) in conversation with Eva Kübar – filmmaker, film critic and cultural journalist.
In order to receive your ticket please register HERE no later than Sunday, 18 December, 23.59. An electronic ticket will be sent to your email from KINO SÕPRUS prior to the screening.
Please join us on social media FACEBOOK, FACEBOOK EVENT and INSTAGRAM and help spread the word!
Any questions or comments, please write to me here!
Best wishes and hope to see you at the screening!
Manny
Manny de Guerre
Side by Side LGBT Film Festival
manny@bok-o-bok.com
Tel: +7.812.313.9341
bok-o-bok.com
2. December Evening dedicated to the fight against global AIDS in the concert hall of “Vaba Lava” in Narva
On December 2, an evening dedicated to World AIDS Day was held in the Concert Hall of the Free Stage. For 3 years we could not get together, viruses took us home, but medicine does not stand still, and today, more than ever, we are united by one mission, one goal – to live in peace, harmony and take care of our health and the health of our humanity. The event was held in the form of interactive communication of performers and spectators, immersion in history, coming out, words of support and gratitude, musical accompaniment of Narva musicians. We express our deep gratitude to all those who responded to our invitation and came to spend this evening with us.
On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities
On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we celebrate the value, perspectives, and contributions that persons with disabilities bring to the world, recognizing that when individuals in these communities have equal access and opportunities to fully participate in society, everyone benefits.
Let’s work together to make our world more inclusive and accessible. It’s not only about fairness; it’s an investment in our shared future.
#AccessForAll #IDPD #IDPD2022
Today, December 1, was the World AIDS Day.
Today, December 1, was the World AIDS Day. For the 17th year already, the Estonian HIV-positive network is lighting candles all over Estonia to commemorate those who have died from AIDS and the war in Ukraine, in addition to AIDS.
Kohtla-Järve
Tallinn
Today on #WorldAIDSDay2022, people around the world unite to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
Our Chargé d’Affaires 𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐧 joined community members affected by HIV to light candles in honor and remembrance of HIV victims around the world, with hope toward fulfilling America’s promise to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic by 2030.
We remain committed to ensuring that the voices of people affected by HIV – of all ages, sex, and populations – are heard and valued, focusing on this year’s theme of “Putting Ourselves to the Test: Achieving Equity to End HIV.”
Narva
What is HIV?
Despite the fact that the immunodeficiency virus is the most studied virus on the planet, most people still do not have clear understanding of what HIV is.
HIV is a human immunodeficiency virus, which in turn causes the disease – HIV-infection. According to UNAIDS, more than 70 million people have been infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic, of which 32 million have already died. The prevalence of the disease is not uniform between countries and even continents. For example, more than 25 million people with HIV live on the African continent, in Russia the number of cases has long exceeded one million, 10 thousand people with positive HIV-status are in Estonia.
The first case of HIV-infection in Estonia was recorded in 1988. Despite the long term of the case, medical progress allows the null patient to fully live his life nowadays. Sexual transmission of HIV-infection in Estonia was common until 1999. In 2001, the number of new cases reached nearly 1,500 people and Estonian government has announced an epidemic.
HIV-infection is a chronic infectious disease characterized by a slow destruction of the immune system. An interesting feature of HIV-infection is that a person can live for years without suspecting any signs of the disease. However, symptoms may be present, but people usually attribute them to the flu or viral respiratory infections.
The clinical picture on the initial stages may actually resemble flu symptoms. A person develops a runny nose, fever, pharyngitis, loss of appetite, lymph nodes enlargement and there are many other symptoms. The symptomatology caused is due to the fact that the virus actively integrates into human DNA and thereby produce a greater number of new viral particles. At the same time, new viral particles attack the cells of the immune system, thereby causing a flu-like state in humans. This phase usually does not last long, which does not allow a person to suspect something serious.
Subsequently, life goes on and person again does not notice any symptoms of the disease. At times, a person may be ill, which again writes off everything to a common cold. This can last for decades, depending on the individual characteristics of the human immune system. If during this time a person is not examined and does not take appropriate treatment, then after 10 -15 years, HIV-infection passes into the stage of AIDS.
Often people do not see the difference between HIV and AIDS. HIV-infection is a disease that is caused by human immunodeficiency viruses. While AIDS is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, the last stage of HIV-infection. Most often, AIDS develops in patients who are not aware of their HIV status or in patients, who refuse treatment. It is important to understand that you can not get AIDS. You can only get infected with HIV.
Often, diseases tend to develop in certain key population, HIV- infection is also not exception. The risk group includes men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, and sex workers. However, everybody should remember that anyone who does not take appropriate precautions could become infected with HIV.
There are three ways to transmit the virus: through blood, unprotected sexual intercourse, and the vertical path, that is, from mother to baby. Nowadays, vertical path is less common, usually during pregnancy the future mother is tested for HIV-infection. If a pregnant woman is found to have HIV infection, she is prescribed special therapy. The treatment reduces the viral load in the mother’s blood, thereby she can give birth to a healthy baby.
The virus can be easily transmitted through the blood, as it immediately enters the bloodstream. Cases of infection through blood involve the use of infected needles, transfusion of blood or its components, and organ transplants. There is a fact that in many countries, by the law gay people are prohibited to donate blood.
It is also believed that to be infected with HIV when tattooing is possible only theoretically. Due to the fact that the virus is unstable in the environment, and careful processing of tools in tattoo parlors has a detrimental effect on the virus itself. In addition, the widespread use of disposable needles in tattoo parlors minimizes the risk of infection.
Promiscuity also lead to the spread of HIV-infection. Sex can be either homosexual or heterosexual. It is believed that the risk of HIV-infection is higher with homosexual intercourse, especially for a passive partner during anal sex. The risk of acquiring HIV-infection increases if a person at the same time has another sexually transmitted disease.
It is important to remember that the person can get the HIV-infection only by the above mentioned ways. It is impossible to get the virus through shaking hands, using one dish while eating, sneezing, kissing, hugging, biting insects, including mosquitoes.
As well it is important to remember that despite all the achievements of medicine in this matter, HIV-infection remains a serious disease. You need to understand this topic well in order to maintain your health and your loved ones.
Stay healthy!
Sagib Kulbayev
EQUALIZE – WORLD AIDS DAY 2022
EQUALIZE – WORLD AIDS DAY 2022
The inequalities which perpetuate the AIDS pandemic are not inevitable; we can tackle them. This World AIDS Day, 1 December, UNAIDS is urging each of us to address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS.
The “Equalize” slogan is a call to action. It is a prompt for all of us to work for the proven practical actions needed to address inequalities and help end AIDS. These include:
Increase availability, quality and suitability of services, for HIV treatment, testing and prevention, so that everyone is well-served.
Reform laws, policies and practices to tackle the stigma and exclusion faced by people living with HIV and by key and marginalised populations, so that everyone is shown respect and is welcomed.
Ensure the sharing of technology to enable equal access to the best HIV science, between communities and between the Global South and North.
Communities will be able to make use of and adapt the “Equalize” message to highlight the particular inequalities they face and to press for the actions needed to address them.
Data from UNAIDS on the global HIV response reveals that during the last two years of COVID-19 and other global crises, progress against the HIV pandemic has faltered, resources have shrunk, and millions of lives are at risk as a result.
Four decades into the HIV response, inequalities still persist for the most basic services like testing, treatment, and condoms, and even more so for new technologies.
Young women in Africa remain disproportionately affected by HIV, while coverage of dedicated programmes for them remains too low. In 19 high-burden countries in Africa, dedicated combination prevention programmes for adolescent girls and young women are operating in only 40% of the high HIV incidence locations.
Only a third of people in key populations— including gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who use drugs, sex workers, and prisoners—have regular prevention access. Key populations face major legal barriers including criminalisation, discrimination and stigma.
We have only eight years left before the 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a global health threat. Economic, social, cultural and legal inequalities must be addressed as a matter of urgency. In a pandemic, inequalities exacerbate the dangers for everyone. Indeed, the end of AIDS can only be achieved if we tackle the inequalities which drive it. World leaders need to act with bold and accountable leadership. And all of us, everywhere, must do all we can to help tackle inequalities too.
Activities will build up to World AIDS Day from November. The World AIDS Day report will be released in late November.
On World AIDS Day on 1st December, events will take place across the world. These activities will be led not only by official bodies but also, most importantly, by communities. Through photos and videos shared by groups on social media and aggregated by UNAIDS, people will be able to have a sense of the kaleidoscope of events taking place and be inspired by the determination and hope.
“We can end AIDS – if we end the inequalities which perpetuate it. This World AIDS Day we need everyone to get involved in sharing the message that we will all benefit when we tackle inequalities,” says UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. “To keep everyone safe, to protect everyone’s health, we need to Equalize.”
Adaptable materials for World AIDS Day will be shared on the UNAIDS special World AIDS Day page, beginning in November.
Invitation! Towards equality! – World AIDS Day 2022
Dear friends and colleagues
Testing week2022
European Testing Week 2022
European Testing Week is a European campaign that encourages partner organisations — in community, health care and policy institutions — throughout Europe to unite for one week twice a year to increase testing efforts and promote awareness on the benefits of earlier hepatitis and HIV testing. This initiative has progressed since its start in 2013 and has grown to be a widely recognised European event with hundreds of organisations participating every year. What once started as an annual event has now become a biannual event with two ETWs occurring each year in Spring (May) and Autumn (November). Each organisation volunteers their own time to organise their Testing Week activities and create incredible displays of a united effort to increase testing awareness at all organisational levels.
Now in its tenth year, the European Testing Week initiative will host the Spring and Autumn ETWs on the following dates:
Spring ETW: 16 – 23 May 2022
Autumn ETW: 21 – 28 November 2022
The aim of the Spring and Autumn ETWs remains the same: to unite partner organisations throughout Europe for one week to increase access to testing and promote awareness on the benefits of earlier hepatitis and HIV testing.
Eeca Interact 2022 team invite you to join.
Dear colleagues!
EECA INTERACT 2022 team I invite you to join the third scientific workshop on HIV, Hepatitis C and Tuberculosis in Eastern and Central Europe, the Baltics, Balkans, and Central Asia which will take place on December 13-14 in Riga, Latvia.
EECA INTERACT 2022 is a workshop that brings together scientists, clinicians, policymakers, and civil society from different countries to debate topics facing individual countries while building capacity and strengthening research and clinical networks.
We will be happy to see you and your colleagues in Riga at Bellevue Park Hotel in December!
You can see the programme of EECA INTERACT 2022, including speakers here.
You can register for the event via this link.
Here you can find information about previous events.
Registration is mandatory. Please, register before 10 December.
The workshop is organised by AFEW International, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, and Rīga Stradiņš University
www.eeca-interact.org #EECAINTERACT