Positive Now is a group of people living with HIV working to ensure that the voices of HIV positive people are central to policy and service level decisions, whilst endeavouring to challenge the irrationality of stigma and discrimination.
Profile
Positive Now is a working group of people living with HIV who formed in June 2010 to give people living with HIV or AIDS a voice within existing government and NGO agencies. The group seeks to improve the well-being and quality of life for people living with HIV and AIDS in Ireland, irrespective of their gender, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation. Positive Now is not affiliated or connected to, or representative of, any statutory or non-statutory agency.
Positive Now has secured four positions on the National AIDS Strategy Committee: one on the main committee, two on the Care and Management sub-committee and one on the Health and Surveillance Committee. Through our unique position as people living with HIV, we will be ascertaining the issues and concerns of other people living with HIV in order to present these issues at both government and NGO levels.
Organisational Objectives:
The group’s objectives are:
- To create an All-Ireland Network of People Living with HIV.
- To provide a link between people living with HIV or AIDS and service providers in order to ensure that the voice of people living with HIV or AIDS is central to policy and service level decisions.
- To maintain continuous representation on National AIDS Strategy Committee.
- Through our unique position as people living with HIV ascertain the issues and concerns of other people living with HIV in order to present these issues at government and NGO levels.
- To keep people living with HIV informed of any relevant issues that may impact on their lives through forums and publications.
- To challenge stigma and discrimination by raising public awareness of HIV issues and highlighting issues of discrimination and stigma as they occur.
- To foster a feeling of empowerment in people living with HIV or AIDS.