Past Programs
AIDS and HIV - 2007
Macarthur Clough and Ariel's Music
25/12/2007
Ariel Glaser was an American girl who died of AIDS at the age of 7 in 1988. Her mother, Elizabeth, contracted the virus when she needed an emergency blood transfusion while pregnant with Ariel in 1981. After Ariel's death, Elizabeth -- the wife of actor Paul Michael Glaser -- became a passionate campaigner to increase public awareness and government recognition of the social consequences of AIDS; this was at a time when the disease had a lot of stigma attached to it.
Elizabeth raised over $30 million for research into paediatric AIDS, before she succumbed to the illness in December 1994. The story of the Glasers inspired Australian composer Brett Dean to write a tribute, Ariel's Music, and it had its world premiere in September 1995. It's a haunting clarinet concerto in two movements. Recently the Qld Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra performed the work with award-winning young clarinetist Macarthur Clough as soloist. This morning, Macarthur Clough talks with Radio National's Florence Spurling about the work, and plays some of that evocative clarinet solo.
Cystic fibrosis bike ride
17/12/2007
In an unusual venture to raise awareness and funds to further research into Cystic Fibrosis, David Nelson decided to ride around Australia on a pushbike. Making this journey particularly unique, and difficult, was Nelson's choice to ride a replica 1907 bicycle! Breakfast caught up with David just before he was due to finish his quest, around the corner from Martin Place in Sydney.
The state of AIDS
18/07/2007
It's now 26 years since the start of the AIDS pandemic. Twenty-five million people have died of AIDS since then and the rate of infection is going up by five million a year.
Early on, Australia was at the forefront of an HIV prevention strategy but Dr John Imrie says we're in danger of reversing that lead.
Dr John Imrie is associate professor of HIV and STI research at the University of New South Wales. He has helped organise the International AIDS Society Conference taking place in Sydney this week.
AIDS and tourism
21/05/2007
The federal government is considering monitoring the movements of HIV positive visitors to Australia, or even preventing their entry all together.
Australia, like many countries, requires applicants for permanent residency to be tested for AIDS and a range of other conditions. But asking tourists about their HIV status, much less testing them or barring their entry, would mark a major change from current Australian policy.
James Carleton has this report.
Chris Smith: HIV research
20/04/2007
Some positive news in HIV research and a near-complete fossil of a tree, complete with trunk and branches – that's a big fossil!
Regular science reporter Chris Smith is in Melbourne this week, where he's attending a major conference with colleagues.
HIV: the Grim Reaper 20 years on
05/04/2007
Twenty years ago, Australia and the world were confronting the threat, and the fear, of HIV/AIDS.
The fear was well played out by the Grim Reaper campaign and the bowling alley.
The first case of AIDS in Australia was diagnosed in Sydney in 1982 and through the mid-80s, an almost hysterical response ensued; dentists were banning gay patients from their surgeries, airlines banning HIV-positive people from travelling on their planes.
And then the safe-sex campaigns began. Condom use was promoted and treatment for those with AIDS became increasingly sophisticated.
Two people very much associated with Australia's public health campaigns then and now are Bill Bowtell and Dr Alex Wodak.
Bill Bowtell is director of the HIV/AIDS Project at the Lowy Institute. Twenty years ago he was a senior adviser to the Australian Health Minister and an architect of Australia's well-regarded and successful response to HIV/AIDS.
Dr Alex Wodak is the director of the Alcohol and Drug Service at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. He's been involved in preventing the spread of HIV among injecting drug users for over 20 years.
Tony Abbott: cervical cancer vaccine
03/04/2007
The national program to vaccinate girls against cervical cancer began in South Australia yesterday.
The vaccine, developed by Australian-of-the-Year Ian Frazer, will see teenage girls given three injections over a period of six months.
It's believed the vaccine will protect women against 70 per cent of cervical cancers.
Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott was at Mount Carmel College in Adelaide to see the first students get their jabs.
