London, 29 September 2006 – Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals limited (Bristol-Myers Squibb) and Terrence Higgins Trust have today announced the launch of ‘Positive Living’, an educational DVD for people newly diagnosed with HIV. ‘Positive Living’ will be distributed free via clinics throughout the country and is available direct from Terrence Higgins Trust.

‘Positive Living’ is designed to answer the commonly asked questions posed by people newly diagnosed with HIV. The DVD illustrates how the prognosis and issues facing people with HIV have changed over the past 10-20 years, and highlights the multiple issues faced today by people with HIV in the UK.

The DVD features interviews with people from a cross-section of British society who have been living with HIV for between four and 22 years.  Two leading HIV physicians, Professor Margaret Johnson and Dr Mervyn Tyrer from the Royal Free Hospital in North London, and Lisa Power, Head of Policy at Terrence Higgins Trust, also provide and share perspectives on a number of pertinent medical and social areas.

Topics covered in ‘Positive Living’ range from the psychological impact of an HIV positive diagnosis through to the practical issues connected with lifestyle and socioeconomic issues such as employment, finance and the law (see Notes to Editors for a full break down of DVD sections.)

Fabrice Chouraqui, head of Speciality Care at Bristol-Myers Squibb said “Bristol-Myers Squibb is committed to the fight against HIV and AIDS through its focus on researching and developing innovative new medicines to treat the disease. Education and awareness are instrumental in helping patients understand and manage their condition, therefore we believe strongly in developing  resources, such as ‘Positive Living,’ to help people with HIV to enhance their lives.”

In addition, Will Nutland, Head of health promotion at Terrence Higgins Trust, commented: “Improved treatments mean that most people living with HIV in the UK can lead full and active lives, however learning how to live with HIV remains a complex and difficult process. We hope that ‘Positive Living’ will prove a valuable tool to people newly diagnosed with HIV to help them on their way to living happy and healthy lives.”

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Notes to Editors

‘Positive Living’ has been produced by Bristol-Myers Squibb in collaboration with Terrence Higgins Trust as a service to people living with HIV. The DVD is available free to people with HIV both through HIV clinics throughout the country and from Terrence Higgins Trust.

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global pharmaceutical and related health care products company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life. 

Terence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing a wide range of sexual health services to over 50,000 people a year. The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and sexual health. Visit www.tht.org.uk for further information.

‘Positive Living’ is broken down into the following sections:

Health

• Understanding your outlook
• Starting treatment
• Taking medication

Lifestyle

• Dealing with your diagnosis
• Disclosure
• Relationships and sex
• Diet, exercise and care
• Pregnancy and family planning

Work, Money, Rights

• Employment
• Finance and benefits
• HIV and the law

Resources

• On-screen listing of sources of further information