Convictus Sweden
Åbo NGO Conference May 8 – 11
Claes Heijbel/ journalist - chairman of Convictus
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Photo logotype Convictus
In Sweden we got our hiv epidemic in the middle of 1980th. I knew personally many of the first infected drug addicts i Stockholm, most of them are dead today. They have more often died of other diseases or accidents as over dosis than aids.
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That means that the situation i Sweden and Stockholm is totally different from the situation in Estonia. The average age of the hiv positive drug addicts in Sweden is double higher than the average age in Estonia.
Logotype
Convictus is a non governmental organization, independant from religious and political groups. The main task of Convictus is to support hiv positive persons with problems of abuse and homeless people. The main part of Sweden´s hiv positive persons with a back ground af drug addiction live in Stockholm – about 350.
Convictus day care center - Convictus Bryggan – Convictus “the Bridge”
Photo Town Hall in Stockholm and Convictus
Photo Convictus Bryggan (day care center for homeless people)
Photo Convictus Bryggan
Photo Convictus Bryggan indoor
Convictus Bryggan – The Bridge - is a day care center for the homeless, many of them are hiv positive. Convictus way of working leads to relations between Convictus´ representatives and the guests. It has shown to be a successful way to create a platform for positive changees in their lives. Convictus cooperates with many NGOs, hospitals, social security centers and churches.
Convictus Tomtebo - recreation center
Photo Convictus Tomtebo recreation house, summer
Photo Convictus Tomtebo recreation house, winter
Photo Convictus Tomtebo recreation house, indoor
Convictus Tomtebo is an idyllic recreation and education center in the country side. The main purpose of this house is to offer recreation to hiv positive persons with problem of abuse. It is common that relatives accompany them to Convictus Tomtebo.
Education
Convictus education is carried out every term as lectures, debates on hiv, abuse and homelessness. Two larger conferences are arranged every year.
Lithuania/Estonia
Convictus also works in Lithuania in the eastern region of the country to increase the awareness of the society as a whole and affect the public opinion about hiv/aids/drugs to mitigate stigmatisation and dissociation of vulnerable groups.
Photo hiv/hepatitis education in Lithuania April 2003
Convictus and local NGO:s hiv/aids conference in eastern Lithuania March 2003
The Estonian hiv epidemic among the drug addicts started in September 2000 in the town Narva close to the Russian border. At that time Convictus already had plans to start working in the country. Since the year of 2002 the NGO Convictus Eesti is a reality.
Photo Convictus representatives outside Murru prison Estonia March 2003