Ambulance

Focus on Haemosexual
Homophobic incidents are not always taken
seriously or properly investigated, leaving
patients feeling worthless, traumatised and
unsafe.
I believe by implementing education and
sexual health information for all people
within the bleeding disorder community, we
have the ability to really save lives. The threat
from viruses like hepatitis and HIV has not
gone away from the world. It has simply
shifted to a different infection route – sex.
We must not allow institutionalised
homophobia coupled with ignorance to
continue putting lives at risk. This means
we have to take action now, grow up and
talk about sexual health. Simply refusing
to accept mounting scientific data of other
life-threatening conditions, such as testicular
cancer or other cancers related to HPV
(Human papilloma virus) is completely
unacceptable, as well as negligent.
Alain Weill, WFH President gave a passionate
speech at this year’s World Federation of
Hemophilia Congress held in Orlando, back
in July. He said:
“When we educate people to see that
being a patient of a rare bleeding disorder
does not define who that individual is, and
instead see them as an active member of
society who enriches their community, we
will show that it is indeed true that the
highest result of education is tolerance.”
As Haemosexual becomes more established
the same shared goals can be achieved:
equality, education and better healthcare
for everyone with a bleeding disorder no
matter what their sexual orientation is.
Are you Haemosexual?
As the subject of sexual health is seen to be
‘too explicit’ by some, I am now reaching out
to those who are at risk by setting up my
own project.
Haemosexual has been designed to offer
practical advice and information, along with
providing education to patients, medical
professionals and other organizations.
We want vulnerable people to get proper
protection – and that means communicating
with them.
Safety information and support on sexual
health is much more effective if it is
provided in a way people feel comfortable
with.
Speaking to like-minded people makes it
easier to talk openly about your lives, body,
physical and mental health.
Haemosexual will stand for equality,
education and better healthcare for
everyone with a bleeding disorder no
matter what their sexual orientation is.
It is in memory of all my friends.
I hope it will also highlight how a small,
vulnerable group of disabled people were
so cruelly treated by those who inflicted
these death sentences and compounded the
suffering for more than 40 years.
I cannot stand by and watch another
generation, condemned to suffer with the
same homophobic and ignorant attitudes.
The views expressed in this article
are those of Mark Ward and are not
necessarily endorsed by Ambulance Today.
To find out more or to get involved, you
can reach Mark via the Haemosexual
website: www.haemosexual.com
Winter 2016 | Ambulancetoday
Winter 2014 | Ambulancetoday3 55