InSite « AHA Media

Alley Health Fair 2011 on 100 Block Hastings in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)

September 21, 2011 ahamedia Leave a comment

A celebration of healthy living and nutrition in the Downtown Eastside, from hair cuts to HIV testing, from blood pressure to pedal-powered smoothies

The Alley Health Fair wants to increase awareness of healthy living possibilities among DTES residents. Be sure to visit them on Thursday, Sept 15 10AM-2PM

Alley Health Fair

100 Block East Hastings

Food, Acupuncture, Massage, Smoothies, Giveaways, Health Info and Testing!

HIV Mobile testing at 62 East Hastings (Empty Lot beside Pigeon Park Savings) in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES) on Wednesday July 27, 2011

July 28, 2011 ahamedia Leave a comment

From What’s Your Status

Together we can radically stop the spread of HIV and AIDS through identifying participants who are positive. The earlier you learn your status and start treatment you significantly lower the risk of transmitting this disease to someone else.

Finding out your HIV status is positive used to be thought of as a death sentence. This is no longer the case because of pioneers in medical research like Dr. Julio Montaner and the BC Center for Excellence in HIV/AIDS who have developed a highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for people living with the disease that can prolong healthy living for a lifetime and reduces the risk of HIV transmission. Along with this ground breaking research, a Point of Care test (similar to a test a diabetic would take) has the ability to screen for the virus in 60 seconds.

We are initiating a HIV testing, treatment and education campaign in the downtown eastside community (DTES). This program is a pilot project linking peers within our DTES to information and resources that they need and are available to them within the PHS programs that currently exist as well as special summer outdoor events.

Our objectives are to test and educate as many people from the DTES community as HIV screening is an important part of preventative health care for everyone. We also intend to link people living with a HIV positive status to all the resources and support that are available to them in their community.

Categories: AHA Media, April Smith, Community Christmas Craft Fair, Downtown Eastside, DTES, Harm Reduction, Health, HIV testing, InSite, Lifeskills Centre, PHS, PHS Community Services Society, Portland Hotel Society, Vancouver, Vancouver Downtown Eastside, Vancouver DTES

Doug Ferris and Darwin Fisher of InSite’s discussion on different things people are injecting in Harm Reduction class in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)

July 27, 2011 ahamedia Leave a comment

As part of 6 seminars presented by LifeSkills Centre and the Washington Needle Exchange in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)

Doug Ferris and Darwin Fisher chat with peer outreach workers on Different things people are injecting

Categories: AHA Media, April Smith, Community Engagement, Downtown Eastside, DTES, Harm Reduction, InSite, Lifeskills Centre, PHS, PHS Community Services Society, Portland Hotel Society, Vancouver, Vancouver Downtown Eastside, Vancouver DTES

Hygiene and Infection Class by Russ Maynard at LifeSkills Centre in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)

July 11, 2011 ahamedia Leave a comment

Peer workers learn the great importance on good hygiene and different types of infection from Russ Maynard, Program Coordinator of InSite at LifeSkills Centre

Categories: AHA Media, April Smith, Community Engagement, Downtown Eastside, DTES, Harm Reduction, InSite, Lifeskills Centre, PHS, PHS Community Services Society, Portland Hotel Society, Vancouver, Vancouver Downtown Eastside, Vancouver DTES

Health, Harm Reduction and the Law: The InSite Case and the Future of Canadian Drug Policy in Vancouver

May 25, 2011 ahamedia Leave a comment

Join us for Health, Harm Reduction and the Law

written by darcie| Thu, 05/05/2011 – 10:41

Next week, the Supreme Court of Canada will hear the Federal Government’s final appeal of the decision to allow the Insite Supervised injection facility to continue to provide lifesaving medical services and support to people who use injection drugs. We are inviting everyone who is interested in learning more about the struggle to open Canada’s first supervised injection site, the ongoing legal battle to keep it open, and the potential impact of a final ruling in this case to join us May 17th for Health, Harm Reduction and the Law: The InSite Case and the Future of Canadian Drug Policy.

Pivot board member and author of Vancouver’s groundbreaking Four Pillars Drug Strategy, Donald MacPherson will moderate an evening of discussion with legal professionals, medical experts, community activists and safe injection site users. The evening will focus on demystifying the case, celebrating the successes and challenges of the movement for evidence-based drug policy, and turning our attention to the future of drug policy in this country.

We’ll see footage straight from the courtroom in Ottawa. We will hear from the Portland Hotel Society, which operates Insite, and their lawyer, Monique Pongracic-Speier. Dr. Thomas Kerr of the Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and Maxine Davis, Executive Director of the Dr. Peters Aids Foundation will talk about the potential health implications of the decision in this case. Plaintiff Dean Wilson will reflect on his journey through the court process as a person who has used Insite. Downtown Eastside activist Bud Osborn will share reflections on the grassroots movement for a supervised injection facility. Dave Murray will talk about the unique perspective and legal arguments that the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users has brought to this case.

We’re looking forward to a lively evening of discussion, debate and reflection on the implications of this case for people who use drugs in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and beyond.