Wainui Park The first retreat for HIV-positive people held in the South Island has been judged a "great success" and will be repeated next year, its organisers say. Although an annual national HIV retreat has long been held in Auckland with people infected with the virus, predominantly gay and bi men, attending from around the country this is the first time such an event has been held in the south. HIV retreats aim to bring together sometimes isolated HIV positive people to share experiences, information and socialise in an affirming setting. "28 HIV-positive gay men attended the retreat at the YMCA's Wainui Park on the shore of Akaroa Harbour," says Bruce Kilmister of Body Positive. "It was organised in response to concerns that people with HIV in the South Island were not getting access to information such as medications and health treatments as easily as those further north," he says. "We had Canterbury Infectious Diseases specialist Alan Pithie and David Miller, ombudsman for the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, present sessions that were extremely interesting." Forthcoming advances in available HIV-fighting medications were also discussed. Kilmister says the facilities and setting at Wainui Park were "magnificent" and to wake to a light dusting of snow one morning and gather around blazing open fires was "an absolute treat."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 7th November 2012 - 8:24pm