STI Clinics in Ireland (list in first post updated 10/08/2010)

GuanYin

Ok, this thread may be a bit out of order on this board. So if I'm out of line, Mods, apologies and please shut it down. I don't know if a poll is appropriate, but I don't expect many people will answer posting, so I'll leave it up to the mods I guess.

I got a mail in work yesterday with recent statistics on STI infections, including HIV, which estimates that prevalence is on the up in this country again. It is especially high in 14-25 year olds with males 33% higher than females.

In 2002 we reached a record high of 3200+ confirmed cases of HIV. The other countries where HIV prevalence has risen are Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland.

One of the things that struck me is, this implies that people are still having unprotected sex. Another thread on boards.ie I saw also suggested this and I'm wondering if the safe sex awareness campaign has failed in this country and needs to be re-initiated.

In someways I thoght safe-sex was something that was a given nowadays, but when talking about it with people I know (including people in the healthcare profession), many have engaged in unprotected sex at least once.

So the question I am posing really, is has the STI awareness campaign in this country failed? Does it need a stronger re-initiation. And do you see safe sex as a big deal?

STI CLINICS

Leinster

Dublin Well Woman Centre
Lower Liffey Street Tel: 01 872 8051
Ballsbridge Tel: 01 660 9860
Coolock Tel: 01 848 4511
www.wellwomancentre.ie

Irish Family Planning Association Medical Centres
5/7 Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1.
Tel: 01 872 7088 / 874 2110
Level 3, The Square
Tallaght, Dublin 24
Tel: 01 459 7685/6
www.ifpa.ie

Femplus Clinic
Blanchardstown
Tel: 01 821 026
www.femplus.ie

STI Clinic, St James Hospital
01 416 2315/6

STI Clinic, Mater Hospital
01 8032063/8034780

Midlands Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Service
1800 20 08 57

Life Pregnancy Care Service
1890 28 12 81

CURA
1850 62 26 26

One Family
1890 66 22 12 or 01 662 9212

Pact
1850 67 33 33

Dundalk Institute of Technology
Health Services – STI screening(limited screening, will refer onto STI clinic)
Dublin Rd
Dundalk
Co. Louth
Tel: 042 9570452

Institute of Art Design and Technology Health Services – STI screening
Kill Avenue
Dun Laoghaire
Co. Dublin
01 2144760

Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown
Health Services – STI screening
Blanchardstown Road North
Dublin 15
Tel: 01 8851105

Dublin Institute of Technology
Health Services – Chlamydia testing only
Aungier Street
Dublin 2
01 4023614

Dublin Institute of Technology
Health Services – Chlamydia testing only
Bolton Street
Dublin 1
01 4023051

Trinity College Dublin
Health Services – STI screening
College Green
Dublin 2
01 8961556

University College Dublin
Health Services – Chlamydia testing only
Belfield
Dublin 4
01 7163133

HIV & Hepatitis testing only
Baggot St Hospital 1800 201 187 or 01 6699500
Beaumont Hospital 809 3006

Connaught

Ballinasloe STI Clinic
090 9648 372 (extension 676)

Castlebar STI Clinic
094 9021733 ext 3501

Galway Family Planning Clinic
091 562 992

Galway STI Clinic
091 525200

Sligo G.U.M Clinic
071 9170473

Mayo Crisis Pregnancy Support Service
1890 20 00 22

Ballinasloe Crisis Pregnancy Support Service
1850 20 06 00

National University of Ireland, Galway
Health Services – STI screening (€20 charge for screening)
University Road
Galway
091 492604

Munster

Cork Family planning Clinic
021 427 7906

Carlow STI Clinic
051 842646

Clonmel STI Clinic
051 842646

Cork STI Clinic
021 4966844

Ennis STI Clinic
061 482382

Limerick Family Planning Clinic
061 312 026

Limerick STI Clinic
061 482382 & (061 316661 Sexual Health Helpline)

Nenagh STI Clinic
061 482382

Tralee Family Planning Clinic
066 712 5322

Tralee STI Clinic
021 4966844

Waterford STI Clinic
051 842646

Youth Health Service
021 422 0490/1

Sexual Health Centre, Cork
021 427 6676/021 427 5837

Kerry Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Service
Family Planning & Women’s Health Clinic, Tralee
066 712 5322

Kerry Counselling Centre, Tralee
066 712 2931

Southwest Counselling Centre
064 36416/064 36474

West Cork Crisis Pregnancy Counselling Service
1890 25 23 59

University College, Cork
Health Services – Chlamydia testing only
Cork City
Co. Cork
021 4902311

Institute of Technology, Tralee
Health Services – STI screening
Clash
Tralee
Co. Kerry
Ireland
066 7191679

Limerick Institute of Technology
Health Services – STI screening
Moylish Park
Limerick
061 490106

Athlone Institute of Technology
Health Services – Chlamydia testing only
Dublin Road
Athlone
Co. Westmeath
090 6424693

Waterford Institute of Technology
Health Services – STI screening (limited screening, will refer onto STI clinic)
Cork Road
Waterford
Co. Waterford
051 302873

Ulster

Altnagelvin STI Clinic
048 71611269

Belfast STI Clinic
048 90 63 4050

Coleraine STI Clinic
048 703 46027/8

HIV Support Centre Northern Ireland
048 9024 9268

Newry STI Clinic
048 30835000 Ext: 2243 or 5050

Letterkenny Institute of Technology Health Services – Chlamydia testing only
Port Road
Letterkenny
County Donegal
074 9186855

A map is available here: http://www.thinkcontraception.ie/info_contacts.asp

information on STD's:
http://www.gumnewcastle.nhs.uk/page.asp?id=2

thedrowner

i don't think STI awareness in this country is very good. i was shocked by a 21 year old friends last week who though that pulling out was a faultless form of contraception (i know its not the same as an STI but it just goes to show the lack of awareness)

i blame drink a lot of the time though. it's scary how things don't matter when you've had that much alcohol. and you could still be aware when you're drun, you just don't care because it seems like such a good idea at the time, you think you're invincible.

Miguel_Sanchez

To be brutally blunt if you don't use protection in this day and age you are a moron.

No matter how nice that person seems there's no way that you can know where they've been or who they've been with.

Typedef

Originally posted by sykeirl
So the question I am posing really, is has the STI awareness campaign in this country failed?

That depends on what you mean by failed?

People are aware of stds, the same way they are aware of cigarettes causing cancer, but, getting drunk or simply having brovado (hence the high incidence of STDs in young males (thinking themselves unlikely to get infected)), is the main cluprit.

Again, Jesus saves.

Tha Gopher

I know of 5 guys who caught crabs off one girl recently.And she isfrom a different town,which shows how it can spread so easily to an area.Not the serious disease in the world but still.Does a condom provide any protection against crabs?Or do you catch it off the hair?If she is shaven can you catch it?What are the diseases that condoms provide no protection against?

But in all honesty are STDs a big public health timebomb or is it hype?I read that one in six young Irish women have chlamydia.As only 50% of people expereicne any symptoms which would require a doctors visit that means that 1 in 12 are at risk of carrying this disease for years and spreading it.But is it really this bad?And if it is not powerful enough to cause symptoms does that mean it is relatively inactive and so poses little risk to anybody?

Also what is the risk with prostitutes?Just wondering as I might be going to Amsterdam with friends soon and you only live once:D
Honestly its Amsterdam,where you do what you like.Get prosttutes from store windows,smoke hash in cafes,do the safest and best quality ecstasy around and buy a shedload of porno.Nobody judges you for what you get up to over there:)

But the way that I look at it is that STDs have been around since god knows when.They were enough of an issue in the 1940s for the US government to warn troops in Norn Iron to stay away from local women who were regarded as being a bit infested with them.So if society didnt collapse back when there were few cures for these illnesses arewe really in such awful trouble today?

And if there are so many fertillity threatening STDs how come 30 year old skanger slappers are still giving birth to their 8th children?Thats what Ive always wondered when they tell you alcohol and cigarrette abuse damages your fertillity when you see Anto who has been an alcoholic since he was 12 have his 12th kid.

Shiminay

If you have unprotected sex then you deserve all you get!

If you swallow - beware. Do you know this person? They could be riddled! Sure, you won't get pregnant (ladies), but you could catch something nasty.

NeMiSiS

But in all honesty are STDs a big public health timebomb or is it hype?I read that one in six young Irish women have chlamydia.As only 50% of people expereicne any symptoms which would require a doctors visit that means that 1 in 12 are at risk of carrying this disease for years and spreading it.But is it really this bad?And if it is not powerful enough to cause symptoms does that mean it is relatively inactive and so poses little risk to anybody?

---

Chylamdia can lead to infertility in women,I saw a documentry not so long ago about a girl who had contracted it unawares,after a few months of trying for kids they went to the doctor,where he diagniosed it. An operation later led to her being told she could never have kids . She was absoloutly heart broken. As im guessing would anyones mother/sister/girlfriend be.

So no it poses a huge risk,just cause it doesnt manifest in symptoms,doesnt make it dangerous..

nem

WhiteWashMan

Originally posted by Kharn
If you have unprotected sex then you deserve all you get!

If you swallow - beware. Do you know this person? They could be riddled! Sure, you won't get pregnant (ladies), but you could catch something nasty.

did you catch something dav?



but i agree, anyone who doesnt use contraception, and i dont just mean the pill, i mean some sort of shielding contraceptive, then you are idiot.

people do know, they just believe that they are invincible, that nothing can happen to them. its just a teenage state of mind. hell, when i was a teen, i thought i culd do anything and nothing could touch me. ive had pregancy scares once to often in college, and thats what copped me on. whos to say im any differnt from kids nowdays?

but i still think you gotta use a condom!

Cabaal

Originally posted by Jeff_Lebowski
To be brutally blunt if you don't use protection in this day and age you are a moron.

I totally agree, No pitty what so ever if they have no common sense at all.

Actually to be honest, you can still be drunk have have sense enough to wear a condom.
drink is not an excuse!

Zombrex

Cabaal
Actually to be honest, you can still be drunk have have sense enough to wear a condom.
drink is not an excuse!

Most people I know it is ignorance rather than being drunk .. i know lots of guys and girls who will happly have sex, sober, without using protection.

I was amazed when i first when to college at the complete lack of knowledge about STDs everyone seemed to have. I went to a school that had quite a good Sex Ed program, but still i didn't know a whole lot and started reading up on stuff when i started having sex. But most of my friends either choose to pretend STD didn't exist or barely knew they existed in the first place. Most people i knew worried about only 2 things, pregency and AIDS. They took the pill for the first and rationalised that the odds of getting HIV were so small, and went out and had lots of unprotected sex.

There is a general feeling, I think, that we (young society) don't want things such as reality to get in the way of us having fun. The people on the telly have random unsafe sex all the time it looks like fun. We are bombared with images of sex sex sex everywhere. We want to be able to have sex when ever and with who ever we want. Pick up a lads or lasses magazine and it is fully of "I had sex with a strange on a plane" or "I shagged the waiter in the bathroom at my 21 birthday." That sounds like fun, we want to do it as well.

We use any old excuse to rationalise unsafe sex (plenty of STD you can get with a condom, herpes, warts, HIV etc etc) and get on with the fun. And when was the last time you say a character on TV getting an STD.

Tha Gopher
Also what is the risk with prostitutes?Just wondering as I might be going to Amsterdam with friends soon and you only live once

Kinda shows my point in glaring light ...

You want to shag a prostitute cause you think it sounds fun (when did sleeping with a prositute become something someone did before they died??) and you don't want a little thing like the huge probability she has a serious STD stop you. So you are rationalising down the risk. Ah it can't be that bad etc ...

Tha Gopher
What are the diseases that condoms provide no protection against?

Most people have no clue how to use a condom properly, and they fail and rip all the time, but to answer your question -

Any genital skin infection, such as Herpes and Warts can be carried on areas that the condom doesn't cover. Also it is doubtfull that condoms protect against warts even if covered.

HIV can be stopped by a condom, but it is not a guarantee. A condom will lower the risks not remove them. Same with the other serious STD viruses.

There is no complete protection against STDs for intercourse. Safe sex is more about being smart about the choices you make, rather than what medical device you use.

simu

So much is said these days about STIs but awareness of their existence is not enough!

There should be a better system in place for ppl who suspect they have become infected!

Many students and 2ndary school students have difficulty paying for one or more visits to a doctor to get treated and for the medicine needed to treat these infections.

Plus, ppl are so afraid to take sex seriously in this country - we love to make jokes and giggle but many ppl are too complexed to admit to a doctor or even to themselves that yes, they have had multiple partners and that yes, they have taken risks.

In fact, does anyone know how to go about getting one's self tested for STIs in Ireland? (I'm thinking I should do so myself)

I know in other countries, ppl who are sexually active and who have had different partners go for routine check-ups say once a year. This seems like a really good idea to me as it encourages ppl to be responsible for their sexual health. Do ppl in Ireland ever do this or do they mostly just wait for symptoms to become impossible to ignore before taking action?

The Sweeper

Chlamydia is one of the most widely spread STDs in the world. If left untreated it can cause PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease) which can cause scarring of the fallopean tulbes and can make women infertile. It does have symptoms - I'm not going to gross people out by going into 'discharge' details so if you want to know about it, go here for instance. Chlamydia is diagnosable through urine samples or other testing, and is easily curable with antibiotics.

Chlamydia is occasionally mistaken by some people for Thrush, a yeast infection that nine out of ten women suffer from in their lives. It isn't the same thing.

However, men can catch Thrush from unprotected sex. This simple fungal infection, while not remotely life threatening, is highly uncomfortable. Couples in long term relationships who have poor sexual health due to lack of awareness, or the highly common refusal to see a doctor out of embarassment, for instance, can constantly reinfect each other through unprotected sex.

Inotherwords you shouldn't just wear a condom because you're afraid of HIV.

And yes, I agree 1000000% that awareness of all issues sex-related in Ireland is poor, poor, poor. I blame this directly on the fact that a lot of the posters on these boards will have parents from a generation who just DID NOT talk about sex, (born in the 40s - 50s) or a generation later than that where they talked about it a bit while the Catholic Church railed against it (the 60's 70's). How are Irish young people supposed to educate themselves when their parents, out of their own lack of awareness, don't actively promote it?

Personally, I think the internet is one of the most valuable resources in sex education. If you can surf for porn, you can surf for information on contraceptives, sexually transmitted diseases and any other question that you're too embarassed to ask someone directly.

Mercury_Tilt

This post has been deleted.

jammy_dodger

No matter how nice that person seems there's no way that you can know where they've been or who they've been with.

Unless of course you know where they've been and who they've been with.

The Sweeper

And I thought life was all sold out of rose coloured glasses...

jammy_dodger

And I thought life was all sold out of rose coloured glasses...

Im not naive, I just dont sleep around, and tend to get to know a person before id sleep with them, form a relationship.

For the record, I always cover me lad, and have never had unprotected sex.
I just wanted to state that, under certain circumstances that you could have unprotected sex, ie your wife
But im now going off topic so ill STOP
As for has STI awareness failed in this country?
IMO i think everyone is aware, but they just don't care(hey that rhymes) People just shrug it off, and 'say' oh that wont happen to me. Im a firm believer in murphy law, if it can happen. It will happen. i agree that our drinking culture has a lot to do with it too.

Zombrex

Originally posted by simu
Many students and 2ndary school students have difficulty paying for one or more visits to a doctor to get treated and for the medicine needed to treat these infections.

Most public hospitals have free STD clinics where you can get checked and recieve treatment free of charge .. if you are paying for an STD check (and there are a lot of doctors that charge an arm and leg) you are going to the wrong place.

I total agree that there should be a better system for those who think they have something (and who find out they have something). There is so much put on NOT GETTING ANYTHING, that if you do catch something (like myself, thank god nothing serious healthwise - btw I have never had unprotected sex) you feel like you have fallen out of the system and basically your sex life is over.

The nurses in the clinic were very bad at any form of support and basically got me out as quickly as possible so they could see the next person. The handed me a piece of photocopied paper to read which basically said the best think I could do is to not catch it in the first place. Lot of help that was.

bug

One thing that always gets me is that cartoon poster in me GP's office which shows two people one of which has a speech bubble saiying I've only slept with one person, and then the poster branches out from his partner, who's previous partner has slept with one women and two men,who have slept with... anyways, it branches out much like a family tree.
I think this poster should be up in every school.
Me personally-we got our sex education in fifth year in secondary school, and I dont recall any mention of STI's.
I go for a full screening every year, even though I have the same partner for the last six years and no-one else. It not that I don't trust him, I do, but as far as STI's are concerned I'm putting my own health first. The infidelity issue doesn't bother me as far as a partner sleeping with someone else, but I will never forget that married man a friend of mine met in Stephen's green. He had two kids and a high profile sales job, he had just been diagnosed with HIV, due to his wife's infidelity..its not a case of someone doing the dirt its a case of someone handing you a death sentance because of their actions, so I tell my boyfriend I get a frequent screening, and If he gets peeved at me ,tough, I'm looking out for myself.

patch

Well said Bug. By the way , keep going on this topic. Every post I read like the previous one, pushes me closer to going for that test..........

GuanYin

Just saw the news that we have a 34% rise in HIV infections in 2002 (thats 364 of the total 3700-ish we have ever diagnosed, the 34% relates to those that are actually alive and in the state).

The statistics are somewhat biased as of those 364 cases approx 250 were pre-existing cases in immigrants coming into the country. Over half the new cases were women and 80% were under 40.

However, the disease is still most prevelant in Ireland among white heterosexual Irish men aged under 25.

Beruthiel

Originally posted by sykeirl
Just saw the news that we have a 34% rise in HIV infections in 2002

indeed, I cannot remember the last time I saw an ad campaigne on this, do they forget that there are new generations of people who need to be informed. There is no doubt about it, if no one’s talking about it, it's forgotten

Nevyn

Well until we get proper health based
sex education in schools this will always be an issue.

Jak

Those statistics can be very misleading, as skyirl just pointed out.

STI's are an area for concern always and deserve ongoing information campaigns, but from what I have seen of this report, it is all presented in a rather more serious light than I believe is the actual case.

Immigrants inflating national statistics is a sure way to misrepresent the reality for native Irish and their sexual practices to date.

I always trust clear absolute numbers far more than percentage changes.

JAK.

Dakeyras

Originally posted by Thaed
Well until we get proper health based
sex education in schools this will always be an issue.

i always think there's been an issue with this, particularly in Ireland, with the uncomfortablness of both parents and schools in general with the subject of sex and the view of the catholic church on contraception as well. Thankfully the uncomfortablness is changing with the younger generations but it still has an impact on getting the proper sex education in schools.

DMT

Originally posted by Dakeyras
the view of the catholic church on contraception as well.

It always amazes me to think that are people who refuse to use contraception because they are Catholic, but have no problem in committing a "bigger sin" by having sex outside marriage. Where does this idiocy originate from?

Lemming

Originally posted by DMT
It always amazes me to think that are people who refuse to use contraception because they are Catholic, but have no problem in committing a "bigger sin" by having sex outside marriage. Where does this idiocy originate from?

#

Obviously it's better to die in sin than live in sin in the Church's eyes :rolleyes:

Oriel

Bear in mind that it's not just sex that spreads HIV...

Nevyn

Well health based sex education will
include STI and condoms.

It still boggles me the ammount of young people who in college didnt know how to open or use a condom correctly and these werent virgins.

And not every one would attend a safe sex workshop to learn and that is those who get into college. The fight against the lack of information on thise type of stuff should not be left to S.U. officers.

and broad minded sisters that embarass the hell out of thier siblings on thier 16 birthday with a safe sex kit .
ok it was fun

Dakeyras

Originally posted by Thaed

and broad minded sisters that embarass the hell out of thier siblings on thier 16 birthday with a safe sex kit .
ok it was fun

lol
brilliant. the poor girl probably didn't know where to turn.

Nevyn

well the 3 sisters that got gifted with the kit took it well it was in fact my lil brother that was shocked.

DMT

Originally posted by Lemming
Obviously it's better to die in sin than live in sin in the Church's eyes :rolleyes:

Either way, sex outside marriage (contraceptives or not) is a venial sin - worst that can happen is you go to purgatory for a while.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Originally posted by DMT
Either way, sex outside marriage (contraceptives or not) is a venial sin - worst that can happen is you go to purgatory for a while.

Same with murdering a Protestant, marrying one on the other hand....

Annasopra

And not every one would attend a safe sex workshop to learn and that is those who get into college. The fight against the lack of information on thise type of stuff should not be left to S.U. officers.

I was an SU officer last year in a small college in Dublin (about 1000 students). We organised a safe sex workshop and about 5 people (members of the SU) turned up. I'm 23 and I learned and I actually learned quite a lot at that talk.

Also in this college, numerous requests have been made to place condom machines in the ladies toilets and in the ground floor toilets. Excuses included: the company who put the machines haven't sold enough, we don't children getting them from the toilets in the ground floor.

We organised a SHAG (Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance) week. college authorities decided they did not like this name and advertised it as wellness centre seminars !!!!!!

Annasopra

Further info and Statistical links:

http://www.ndsc.ie/IDStatistics/QuarterlySTIReports/

http://www.healthpromotion.ie/uploaded_docs/hput00039.pdf

http://www.ndsc.ie/Publications/HIVandAIDSReports/

po0k

http://www.afraidtoask.com/std.html

po0k

condoms are quite expensive if buying them regularly.

Possible solutions:
Don't charge tax on them (is any tax applied to condoms already? I assume so)
Regulate the pricing, possibly at EU level?
Subsidise the cost
Give out free condoms in colleges

Nevyn

condoms are currently taxed at 21% as they are considered to be a luxury item.

loismustdie

this was stated on another thread in after hours today. apparently in the independent yesterday it was said that a lot of gay men are trying to contract HIV to make them feel part of the gay community. the reasoning behind this is that they are outsiders because they are gay all their lives and then when they come out they still don't feel like they are accepted because of all the hype about gay men with aids so they actually try to get aids themselves -

Dakeyras

Originally posted by loismustdie
the reasoning behind this is that they are outsiders because they are gay all their lives and then when they come out they still don't feel like they are accepted because of all the hype about gay men with aids so they actually try to get aids themselves -

that is absolutely insane reasoning and i actually find that very hard to believe. I don't know a single person who is gay that would agree with that at all (only conjecture but i'm going with the people that i know and their personalities). If someone feels like they are that unaccepted i don't think contracting HIV will make them feel like they belong more or that they are more accepted by their peers. And i would nearly guarantee if they asked anyone with HIV or aids if they could somehow wish it away that they would do so without a moments hesitation.

It most certainly is not a status symbol nor does it grant you admission to some exclusive club, it is a disease and not a very nice one at that.

Beruthiel

Originally posted by Dakeyras
that is absolutely insane reasoning and i actually find that very hard to believe

totally agree!
that’s outrageous, only an idiot would do something like that – they might as well say next that anyone who is gay has a lower IQ or something equally stupid
I'm off th AH to see what the story is...

loismustdie

Carlos is part of an intricate underground world that has sprouted, driven almost completely by the Internet, in which men who want to be infected with HIV get together with those who are willing to infect them. The men who want the virus are called "bug chasers," and the men who freely give the virus to them are called "gift givers." While the rest of the world fights the AIDS epidemic and most people fear HIV infection, this subculture celebrates the virus and eroticizes it. HIV-infected semen is treated like liquid gold. Carlos has been chasing the bug for more than a year in a topsy-turvy world in which every convention about HIV is turned upside down. The virus isn't horrible and fearsome, it's beautiful and sexy -- and delivered in the way that is most likely to result in infection. In this world, the men with HIV are the most desired, and the bug chasers will do anything to get the virus -- to "get knocked up," to be "bred" or "initiated into the brotherhood."

loismustdie

tis madness, i agree. i think journalists are jst running out of stories or something

Beruthiel

do you have a link to that story loismustdie?
I can't seem to locate it

bloggs

I read yesterday that AIDs infections are up 22% (Examiner.ie) and most of these are from people in Sub Saraha Africa. Why or why is there no health screen of people entering this country? Also this 22% is of known cases, how about all the unkown ones? Other countries are doing screening, but we have to be behind everyone else

Dakeyras

Originally posted by loismustdie
The virus isn't horrible and fearsome, it's beautiful and sexy -- and delivered in the way that is most likely to result in infection. In this world, the men with HIV are the most desired, and the bug chasers will do anything to get the virus -- to "get knocked up," to be "bred" or "initiated into the brotherhood."

Do these people actually know anything about HIV, beautiful and sexy? FFS. I find this really really hard to believe and i hope its just tabloid journalism (even in the examiner) trying to be really explosive. But even if it does exist i'm sure it would have to be a very small minority. 'Initiated into the brotherhood'? somebody should initiate them into some f$*%@&g education.

loismustdie

Originally posted by Beruthiel
do you have a link to that story loismustdie?
I can't seem to locate it

go to the second last page or there abouts in the skangers thread in after hours, they're talking about it there and there's a link too. mordeth actually read it in the paper yesterday

bloggs

Originally posted by loismustdie
Carlos is part of an intricate underground world that has sprouted, driven almost completely by the Internet, in which men who want to be infected with HIV get together with those who are willing to infect them. The men who want the virus are called "bug chasers," and the men who freely give the virus to them are called "gift givers." While the rest of the world fights the AIDS epidemic and most people fear HIV infection, this subculture celebrates the virus and eroticizes it. HIV-infected semen is treated like liquid gold. Carlos has been chasing the bug for more than a year in a topsy-turvy world in which every convention about HIV is turned upside down. The virus isn't horrible and fearsome, it's beautiful and sexy -- and delivered in the way that is most likely to result in infection. In this world, the men with HIV are the most desired, and the bug chasers will do anything to get the virus -- to "get knocked up," to be "bred" or "initiated into the brotherhood."

Are these people stupid or just insane?

Dakeyras

Thought i'd check into this a bit and it seems this story stems from a story in Rolling Stone back in February and the quotes from the independent are the same as the Rolling Stone quotes. To that original story there were also immediate dismissals and questions over any scientific evidence to support the claims, and some dismissed it as pure fabrication.

Anyhoo, here be some links for anyone interested:

http://www.is-five.com/012703.php

http://uk.gay.com/headlines/3569

post by Grimlock with link to original rolling stone article:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?postid=1102667#post1102667

Annasopra

also discussing it here

http://www.gcn.ie/newgcn/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=237

Annasopra

Anyway

There are more STIs than HIV,

I'm surprised noone reacted to my comment about my college

Typedef

Originally posted by bloggs
I read yesterday that AIDs infections are up 22% (Examiner.ie) and most of these are from people in Sub Saraha Africa. Why or why is there no health screen of people entering this country?

What are you trying to say.. all those outsiders are spreading the virus in our pure aryan nation?

That's not what you were intimating right?

Maybe the real question we should be asking is why don't the old Imperial powers who heaped so much suffering and created the circumstances for degeration of the African continent do something useful, like debt relief, so the poorest African countries could spend some of their money on healthcare and education, instead of on paying back unimaginable debts? Greed?

Why don't the old imperialist nations remove trade barriers, like the CAP, so that African countries could get a fair price for their produce, and maybe spend some money on fighting AIDS?

bloody foreigners.