Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

NEW RTE ONE TV SERIES 20:30 TUESDAY NIGHTS

JUNE and JULY 2009

“OUTBREAK”

Amid global concerns about the swine flu epidemic, the RTE Television Archive Unit launched a new series which commenced in June. OUTBREAK tells the human stories behind disease outbreaks in Ireland over the last one hundred years.

The series began with the Killer Flu of 191 and finishes with the modern plague of HIV/AIDS, which hit Ireland in the 1980’s and is recounted by those living productively with the virus.

PROGRAMME SIX: Tuesday, 7^th July 2009, RTÉ ONE at 20:30

OUTBREAK – LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS

In the early 1980’s the world woke up to a new disease. Scientists were baffled. Fear of the unknown lead to hysteria and prejudice. This mystery killer, we now know as HIV/AIDS, spread across all social divides and quickly found its way to Irish shores. Liz Martin from Dublin and Joe Lynch from Balbriggan are just two of approximately 5,000 diagnosed as HIV positive in Ireland who are living productive lives today.

Liz Martin lived in Galway for many years and was involved with AIDS West throughout her time whilst living in the county. She is the Author of “Still Standing”, an Irish woman’s story of HIV and hope” which is her autobiography and was written in conjunction with AIDS West, Galway. She was brought up in Dublin’s Inner City. She witnessed many childhood friends as they became addicted to Heroin during the 1980’s, including her own boyfriend. At 16 she became pregnant with her first child. Shortly afterwards her boyfriend was diagnosed HIV positive. She was advised to have herself tested and was delighted when the results showed she did not have the virus. However, as a National awareness campaign had yet to be implemented. Liz’s knowledge of HIV was limited and she continued to have unprotected sex. She had two more children in the years that followed but by 1991 her boyfriend’s drug addiction was taking its toll. The relationship broke down and although pregnant with her fourth child she moved to the West of Ireland to start a new life for herself and her young family. But her past was to catch up with her.

Since the 1980’s approx 5,000 people in Ireland have been diagnosed HIV positive but that number is continuing to grow. An average of one person per day is diagnosed HIV positive in this country and to date an estimated 450 people have died from AIDS in Ireland.

Her book “Still Standing” is available at AIDS West, for further information contact:

091 566266 or info@aidswest.ie