Decreasing Discrimination Against People With HIV

_MEDIA RELEASE: 20 AUGUST 2009
For Immediate Release

Huge Step In Decreasing Discrimination Against People Living With HIV

Two of New Zealand’s HIV prevention and support organisations have joined together to applaud a groundbreaking development for people living with HIV in New Zealand. For the first time, Your Life and Associates, a Hamilton based insurance broker has made life insurance available to people living with HIV.

The New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) and Positive Women Inc. have praised the decision. Jane Bruning, the National Coordinator of Positive Women Inc. says “up until now people living with HIV have been refused life insurance cover or premiums that were prohibitively expensive as well as being discriminating. This is a huge step towards addressing the stigma in service provision that people living with HIV experience on a daily basis.”

Reuben Waihi, Managing Director of Your Life and Associates says he advocated on behalf of a woman living with HIV, a member of Positive Women Inc., who was initially refused cover by insurance companies. “We believe that everyone's needs are different so when one of our customers with HIV was unable to get life insurance despite being in good health, Neil Peters a Client Advisor, was determined to offer a service that met her needs.”

Eamonn Smythe, NZAF Director Positive Health Services and Bruning have stated “we congratulate Your Life and Associates for making this move forward and hope other insurance companies will follow their lead. Life insurance is a necessity for people with mortgages and families. As more New Zealanders are living with HIV than ever before this is a sound and timely decision.”

ENDS

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