Lovin Malta: WATCH: I'm Ben, I'm Two Years Old And I'm Making History

A Maltese boy's journey to a loving home

https://lovinmalta.com/lifestyle/video-1/watch-im-ben-im-two-years-old-and-im-making-history
Chucky Bartolo March 2017

Little Ben is making history. He was the first child to be adopted by a Maltese same-sex couple Kris and Steve.

Ben also happens to have Down Syndrome.

Malta first met Ben eight months ago, after his father, Kris, posted a touching message on Facebook introducing him to the world, and thanking everyone for their support. But we now know that Ben's journey wasn't always easy, and he's overcome incredible odds to be the superstar he is today.

MGRM & Gay Malta: Position Paper on HIV Prevention and Treatment Guidelines

Published by the Malta Gay Rights Movement (MGRM) and Gay Malta

April 2017

The information guidelines below have been formulated to provide information to Malta based Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) sexually active individuals who wish to have access to adequate prevention or treatment for HIV.

In view of the paucity of actions so far, and the slow development of an adequate sexual health policy, the unfortunate and inevitable result is of an increase in sexual health related diseases, including HIV, which disproportionately impinge upon our community with those most at risk being men who have sex with men and trans sex workers. This important issue requires several fronts of action and these guidelines relate both to the access of effective prevention from HIV infection and also to better treatment for those individuals who are HIV positive.

Attitude: Man Proposes to his Boyfriend with a little help from the NBA's Chigago Bulls - watch

http://attitude.co.uk/man-proposes-to-his-boyfriend-with-a-little-help-from-the-nbas-chicago-bulls-watch/

This is one basketball game Jake Conrad and his boyfriend won't forget.

[Watch video]

It was a slam dunk for Jake Conrad after American basketball team the Chicago Bulls helped him create an unforgettable proposal for boyfriend Michael Holtzman on Thursday (December 8).

The video, which has racked up over 800,000 views in four days, shows the Bull’s mascot Benny bringing Michael on stage as Jake prepares to pop the question.

The team’s cheerleaders dance, before creating an aisle for Jake to walk through. Armed with a candy Ring Pop, Jake then asks Michael to marry him.

Watch the video below to see Michael’s reaction…

Independent: HIV self-test kits now available in local pharmacies

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-03-18/local-news/HIV-self-test-kits-now-available-in-local-pharmacies-6736171714#.WM1giZ9U61U.facebook

Helena GrechSaturday, 18 March 2017, 17:00

Self-testing HIV kits are now available in local pharmacies, Allied Rainbow Communities has announced.

The Malta Independent on Sunday had initially reported that the government, under Health Minister Chris Fearne, was in the procurement process of bringing HIV rapid testing kits to the GU clinic in Mater Dei Hospital, for free. The Ministry had also revealed when speaking to this newsroom that self-test HIV home kits will also be available in pharmacies, which has now been made a reality.

The self-test kits allow a person to be able to test for the disease at the comfort of their own home, without any prying eyes. It is a straightforward process that requires a small drop of blood, takes 15 minutes to get the results, and is 99.8 per cent accurate. The kit is known as the ‘Autotest VIH’.

HIV is a potentially life-threatening condition that works by damaging a person’s immune system, as it interferes with the body’s ability to fight the organisms that cause disease. It is primarily a sexually transmitted disease however drug users who share needles are also at risk. The body’s ability to fight disease is possible through what are known as ‘antibodies’, explaining why a blood test over a saliva swam is generally preferable.

It must be said that HIV has an incubation period, meaning that some time must pass between contracting HIV, and getting a positive read on a test.

The kits have been approved both by Malta and the EU.

In the recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, EU member states resolved to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. To achieve this it has set up a set of goals to be met by 2020:

“By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status.

“By 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy.

“By 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.”