The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 1, 1998 - B1 SECTION B CRIS LEYKAUF 638-7283 INSIDE COMMUNITY EVENTS B2 SPEAKING. OUT SARAH de LEEUW Why condoms? HERE’S A young women in Ter- ‘Tace Who thinks she may be preg- nant. A bright, beautiful young women who really loves her boyfriend. She’s not sure if she can keep the baby, In fact, one of her parents has told her he’s going to kick her out of the house if she doesn’t get an abortion, She’s just not sure though. She thinks having a baby might be fun. Her boyfriend wants to stick by her side. He’s 13 years old. She’s just days past her 13th birthday. Last month she was 12. When asked if they had used contraceptive consistent- ly, they both nod their heads. “Oh yeah,’ they say. “How come you're worried you’re pregnant then?,’’ I ask. “Well, sometimes we, well, don’t,” they ans- wer. “Sometimes?” “Well, yeah, like when we can’t get a hold of them.” “Can't get a hold of what?,’? I ask, “Condoms,” comes the squeaky-nervous ans- wer. “Can't get a hold of them?,” J query. ‘‘But they’re in the drug stores aren’t they?” “Uh hub,” they nod ‘‘but..like...well...you know...,'’ comes the answer. I do know. This is a small town, It’s embar- rassing to think about running into a teacher, your mum or dad, or even your pastor when your buying condoms in the store. And they’re expensive. You need aboul 12 bucks, in one shot, for a box of them. Think about how much easier it would be if you could drop a loony into a machine, some place where no one’s looking, and get that litle thing that could save your life. This is the place in. this article where I can hear some of you taking a sharp breath. Making it easier for young people to have sex!? But thai’s the problem right there, you're saying, If kids weren’i having sex, there wouldn't be all the problems we face. High rates of teen pregnancy, high rates of STDs. Kids with AIDS. We should, you’re arguing in your head, teach and promote ab- stinence. You know what? J agree with you. Abstinence is the best answer. We should promote it. But not at the expense of providing condoms to the young people who need them. You see? We all want to reduce rates of teen pregnancy and STDs. Abstinence is one answer (and maybe the best answer) and condom availability is another. Making condoms available doesn’t negate making information on the right to say no and the choice of abstinence is available. The two can work in conjunction. But, there are those people who want to pro- mote abstinence and the right to say no over (and ai the expense of) offering condoms as an option. Kids are having sex, We all want to reduce unhealthy interactions. Promoting abstinence is one option. Providing condoms through schools is another. These two things can coexist, Condoms and access to contraceptives do nat promote sexual activily. There is no link be- tween contraceptive availability and sexual ac- tivity. The young people who are having sex will have it with or with out seeing a condom, Those who are active aren’t going to be made Spontaneously active with the sight of a con- dom. Having sex with a condom, if the condom is used properly, is always safer than having un- protected sex, It’s not as safe as not having sex at all, but for some, that’s just nol a realistic op- tion, For the sake of the young girl who thinks she may be pregnant, and for the sake of all young people who want to have anonymous access to condoms, please support this issue. Show up to the Education Committee meeting on April 15 at 7:30 at the school board office. Call me at the Women’s Centre for more in- formation. Write a letter of support to the news- paper. Write one to the school board. By working towards condoms accessibility, you could impact on the life of one child. If one condom saves one young person from HIV in- fection or an unwanted pregnancy, or an STD that renders them infertile, your efforts will have proved invaluable. You may have changed the direction of that one bright beautiful young women and her boyfriend, Think about it Editor's note: The time and place of the Edu- cation Committee’s meeting could be changed if large crowds are expected. Call the school board office at 635-4932 to confirm, ; Tainted blood victim 0 By BRIAN GREGG DO YOU know why there are 10 vampires in Canada? They all received tainted blood, There were many victims of the tainted blood epidemic, myself included. But one cannot blame the health care system of Cana- da — including the Red Cross — or the medical profession, Last May I was diaznosed with Hepatitis C (a poten- tially fatal liver disease) after 30 years of riding the roller coaster of a bilious bowel, As if to underscore the diagnosis, four months later I came down with pneumonia and spent 40 days and nighis with an oxygen pump. Then I was told I was ac- tually negative in the fall, even though I had been marginally positive in the Spring. Mayor Jack Talstra asked me at New Years if this meant I though I’d be posi- live in the sping ard nega- tive in the fall in the future. I replied, “I know I’m being negative about this, but [’m not exactly positive about that!” A pharmacist noted that in the case of Hepatitis C, the disease becomes un- detectable when in remis- sion which leaves one ta in- fer that it’s only truly detec- table when it’s fully active. Much like a bull wrestler I asked myself how people with infectious diseases like AIDS and Hepatitis could donate blood, knowing that they wonid be tainting the blood supply. fighting the homs of a dilemma, one doesn't know where to stand while one is being flayed about To be truthful — having a bilious bowel = disease anyway — my reaction 1o both diagnoses was...blank. I was, like the movie, dazed and confused. It’s a strange world after all. I had been watching the Krever inquiry last year, which probed the scandal of the Red Cross tainted blood, I asked myself how people with infectious diseases like AIDS and Hepatitis could donate blood, knowing that they would be tainting the blood supply, I recall an incident during my college days, 28 years ago. A college buddy, Jon Buston, introduced me to a friend of his who was plan- ning to give blood that day. He was seriously impaired with some kind of bug and Jon was trying to persuade him to wait until he had recovered so as not to con- taminate the blood supply. “I’s my constitutional tight to give blood,’’ he said. ‘‘T’ve planned to give blood today and I’m going to give bload today,’’ Jon and I looked at cach other and I said what was on both our hearts, ‘‘Yeah, but what about your constitu- tional responsibility?’’ The fellow was unmoved. Last winter watching the Krever Inquiry I became somewhat cynical about the entire proceedings. On several occasions I saw vic- tims and their relatives stand up and try to discuss the motives of infected blood donors who knowingly con- taminated the blood supply. Their hopes were dashed by Krever's gavel. He refused to discuss the actual con- lamination. The typical irony of bureaucracy was that if they allowed viclims to discuss those who actually con- taminated the supply, they might have to discuss indi- viduals within the supply system itself who might be beld accountable. A plague upon all their de- partments I thought, and switched channels. The best victims got was a five minute snippel on CBC News World last fall about a six-year-old girl who died from AIDS she’d contracted through contaminated blood. They discovered the donor had given the ‘gift of life’ 100 times during the course of his AIDS illness before he died, The reason governments aye reluctant to discuss a compensation package for victims is because the con- taminated blood fiasco is so widespread coast to coast. The tainted blood scandal it- self has become an epidemic. Meanwhile T had written John Nunziata, MP York South-Weston, to find out what the government was VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR BRIAN GREGG plays Sherlock Holmes, pouring through documents related to the tainted blood scandal. He wonders why nothing is done to people who knowingly contaminated the blood supply. really doing; but he had lost his office and was shuffled into a broom closet. Eventually the letter was forwarded to Health Minis- ter Allan Rock. His reply on Feb. 9 was sympathetic but uncomuitial, “*] wish to assure you that IT have no desire to see Hepatitis © victims spend precious time navigating a niaze of litigation. At the same time, this is an issuc that will require consensus among the various levels of government. I am com- mitted to working with government to achieve that consensus,’? he wrote. A relief to BC Premier Glen Clark, but not to victims. So I await with baited breath the results of my spring test — be it negative, positive or continue to be indecisive [ cannot say, The sentiments and emo- tions which every literary anatomist now knows to haunt the heart were an- ciently belicved to infest the liver. Brian Gregg is a former I’m only grateful the liver pewspaper editor in Terrace didn’! become the symbol of who received tainted blood . Valenline’s Day. in the 1980s. Fed gov offers aid to victims THE FEDERAL government announced a $1.1 biltion aid package las! weck to Hepatitis C victims infected by tainted blood. Compensation only goes to those 22,000 who received bad blood between 1986-90, Brian Gregg did receive tainted blood somewhere be- tween 1984-86. So if he tests positive this spring for Hepatitis C, he wil] be eligible for aid. *’d just as soon be negative,’’ said Gregg. The offer of $1.1 billion will be forwarded to the courts where Hepatitis C victims have launched class action law- suits. If a court rules the package is acceptable, it will be made available to victims who qualify. Those receiving compensation will likely to gel a lump sum, which has yet to be determined, in exchange for a promise not to suc the government, The reason the aid package is restricted to those four’ years is that governments and the Red Cross decided against buying a ‘surrogate test’ which would have screcned out most Hepalitis C infected donalions. Sprucing up Terrace’s landscape TWO MORE NOMINEES have been added to this year’s contest for Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by the Terrace Standard and Overwaitea. The last day for entrics is April 10, so please bring them in soon. Conrad Ganzenberg and Yvonne Moen nominated Chris Hansen for the horour on behalf of the Terrace Beautification Society. They described her as “dedicated, devoted and hardworking.’’ Hansen was stunned when she learned she’d been nominated. ‘‘I keep thinking I’m doing nothing.’’ She's been an active mem- ber of the beautification society for about three years. And her desire to beautify her surroundings is evident in the yard of her Thornhill bench home. A lawn sur- prisingly green for carly Spring is set off by landscaped flower beds. Two breeds of irises are al- teady poking through the: bark mulch, There would be more but Hansen dug up a number and moved them to the hill she helped landscape on the Sande Overpass. Ganzenberg and Moen both commended Hansen's efforts with ihe overpass. Chris Hansen Hansen is aiso a key coor- dinator for the beautification sociely, arranging publicity, arranging the annual Gar- bathon, school clean-ups, meetings and more. Now Hansen is leading the charge on the linear park project, from the Valley Oxygen project all the way to the Kalum Lake Dr. turn- off on Hwy. 16 west. ‘These projects require countless hours to reach for donated or affordable fill, plant material and equip- meni,’’ wrote Ganzenberg. However, Hansen didn’t think she should be singled out for the honour. “This is not an isolated position,” she said. ‘‘Many hands make little work — you sce resulis when that happens.” . Hansen's volunteer efforts aren’t confined to the beau- tification sociely, She also has been in- volved with the local multi- ple sclerosis society and their annual carnation drive for many years, after being diagnosed with the disease | in 1989, Plus she leads a bible study group for the Alliance Church, acts as a volunteer supervisor for the Provincial Networking group. “J do what [I can do," says Hansen. Yvonne Maen nominated anoiher voluntecr this weck as well — Muriel O’ Boyle. Now 87, O’Hoyle has fived in Terrace for 44 years. Conservalively dressed in a green sweater and wool skirt, she relaxes in an easy chair in front of her gas: fireplace. There's a wonder- ful sense of peace about her, and the wisdom of her years is evident, O'Boyle too, is surprised by her nomination, She’s been a volunteer for a long time — about 35 years. Muriel O’Boyle Her volunteering efforts go back to when a the Old Age Pensioner’s Society first formed here, Ske took the position of secretary, often coordinating activilies, such as entertain- ment and bingo. At times she would provide that en- terlainment as well, playing the piano. She was also tireless in her efforts to drive seniors to meetings and other events. Even though she’s getting on in years O"Boyle is still voluntecring, She coor- dinates the music entertain- ment at Tertaceview Lodge three limes a month, She’s good at that job she says because nobody dares to say 10 to her. As for her volunteer work, O’Boyle says she'll keep ac- tive as long as she’s able. **T enjoy every minute of it”? If you'd like to nominate a volunteer you'll find a form on page A7 of this weck’s paper. All those nominated will be invited to the Volunteer Bureaw’s anneal luncheon, And the grand winner — Volunteer of the Year — will be treated to dinner for two at the Bavarian Inn restaurant.