Media stories for November 26, 2012

Offer routine HIV testing for all, Canada’s top medical journal says
Vancouver Sun
In an editorial Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, HIV/AIDS scientist Dr. Julio Montaner and VCH Medical Health Officer Dr. Reka Gustafson say that too many of those infected with HIV are diagnosed late, “sometimes very late,” and are unaware that their bodies are harbouring the virus.

“At Home” and thriving, for now, but support for homeless study ends soon
Vancouver Sun – part 1 of a series
An innovative research project that provides homes and support services to the homeless is praised for saving lives and money, but participants may be left scrambling when it ends.

Control group a necessary evil
Vancouver Sun – Part 2 of a series
While 300 At Home/Chez Soi participants get housing and support services, another 200 are on their own.

Helen Mussallem was a decorated, celebrated, altruistic activist
Globe and Mail
Mussallem, a VGH nursing grad and staff member, was a trailblazer, her storied career a microcosm of the evolution of modern nursing. And, along the way, she helped to reshape health care in Canada and nursing education around the world. She died November 9 in Ottawa.

Praise for St. Paul’s
The Province – Letter to the editor
The West End Business Improvement Association is thrilled St. Paul’s Hospital will be staying and developing on its current site in Vancouver’s West End.

South Asians do not choose boys over girls but community cam still work to improve birth ratio
The Link
The recent Asian Women’s Health Symposium: Health of Mothers and Babies, held at Langara College in Vancouver was sponsored jointly by Vancouver Coastal Health, Mosaic and Langara College. VCH Medical Health Officer Dr. Meena Dawar is mentioned.