Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!ucla-cs!Robbie.Bates@p1.f381.n634.z3.fidonet.org
From: Robbie.Bates@p1.f381.n634.z3.fidonet.org (Robbie Bates)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Australian AIDS News
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Date: 28 May 90 08:57:15 GMT
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Note:	Copyright 1990 by Daniel R. Greening.  Permission granted for
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Archive-number: 2117

MELBOURNE AUSSIE ACT-UP TO BE ESTABLISHED

Melbourne, Friday 18 May 1990.

A public meeting has been called for Monday May 28 at the Fitzroy
Community Health Centre (75 Brunswick Street Fitzroy) at 7.30pm to
establish Aussie ACT-UP (Melbourne).

The meeting follows the establishment last month of Aussie ACT-UP NSW,
and its first protest action outside the Sydney headquarters of the
Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) on April 27.

"It's time for people living with HIV/AIDS and their friends to speak
up," a spokesperson said.

"The apalling slow response by the Federal Government and its agencies
to offer AZT free to people with T-Cell counts below 500 and over 200 is
one example that is creating anger in people with HIV/AIDS.

"It is unsatisfactory that people wit these T-Cell counts in other
countries have access to AZT free of cost, yet people in Melbourne are
being forced to buy AZT because they do not fit existing antiquated
protocols.

"AZT is immediately available free of cost to health care workers, yet
is not available to those who wishto access AZT as part of their
prevention treatment.

"The slow procedures to get new treatments in to Australia is another
area that can not be tolerated. It is time to organise nd act. We cannot
stay silent," the spokesperson said.

Other areas of concern to people with HIV/AIDS that ACT-UP is likely to
address are the insensitivity of medical services in some Melbourne
Hospitals, limited access points for AZT, the non- funding of a HIV
educator by the State government, poor referral procedures from
hospitals and doctors to community support services and the need for
improvement in the confidentiality of services in regional Victoria.

The public meeting will feature a speaker from Aussie ACT-UP (NSW). It
will identify areas for action and will be an open forum for all
interested in supporting direct action.

(C) 1990 Oz Media Limited, Melbourne, Australia. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduced By Permission.

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