AIDS "hot-line''.

And Mr. Robert Allen, who heads up Nova Scotia's Persons With AIDS Coalition (PWA) says he is impressed with the standard of care offered in Bermuda to those with AIDS.

Mr. Allen visited the Island's AIDS facilities last week and met some of the people involved in AIDS-related care.

"I think every community, wherever it is, knows best how to deal with its own problems, so long as they have the expertise. I believe Bermuda has the expertise. I've met some Government people and people who are helping with the care of those with AIDS. They're all dedicated, well informed and wonderful people. I wish they could come to Halifax and set up a hospice for us. We don't have one there, just a hospital.'' He said that "just by listening to people'' during his visit, he was convinced that besides care and support for those who have been diagnosed as HIV positive, there is still a great need to give similar support for family and friends who are obviously under great emotional stress.

Mr. Joe Gibbons, spokesman for the Allan Vincent Smith Foundation, said Mr.

Allen had given the Foundation his views and expertise in several areas, especially in the training of a volunteer hot-line on AIDS-related issues. He said the Foundation was already screening volunteers and hoped that a training programme would be in place within the next month to six weeks.

"One of the objectives of the Foundation was to establish a hot-line that would disseminate help and information to the community on HIV infection and high-risk activities.'' Mr. Gibbons said his organisation completely concurred with Mr. Allen's views on the importance of training and educating volunteers.

"I would also like to stress that this hot-line will complement the Government information line which operates from 9 to 5. We are hoping we will be able to run our line through to 9 or 10 at night, five nights a week.'' He emphasised the importance of training people so that they could answer any and all questions objectively, without taking any personal viewpoint.

"The volunteer will have to be able to advise on everything from symptoms, testing, drugs used for treatment, through to social issues such as housing and employment, legal and human rights. We agree that training is absolutely critical and we will also ensure that volunteers have a referral directory.

And of course, we guarantee absolute anonymity.'' Mr. Allen makes the point that each community has problems in dealing with AIDS that are unique to each area. Nova Scotia, for instance, has about 300 people testing positive for HIV and AIDS in a population of around 865,000. So although the incidence is not as high as in some other communities, the geographical size of the Province has obviously presented its own problems in accommodating the needs of people who live outside the main metro areas.

It was to address this problem that led to Mr. Allen's appointment in 1988.

"Our object is to help not only those who have HIV or AIDS, but their partners, families and friends. In 1988, no-one in Nova Scotia had spoken out about what it means to live with AIDS. There were a lot of misconceptions so we saw the need for more education. Our programme evolved into health promotions and support and increased advocacy for those with AIDS.'' Explaining that many affected people had moved to Halifax and other larger towns just to be near medical and social services, Mr. Allen felt there was some urgency in extending the PWA support scheme to other areas. As a result, the PWA Coalition opened up, first in Cape Breton and now has groups all over the Province.

One of the latest projects undertaken by Mr. Allen is the Black Outreach Project in Halifax.

"We have a wonderful, strong black community there that had not been targeted in any AIDS-related work so we got together with community leaders and we have just submitted a proposal on education, awareness and support programmes.'' He said that the approximate six percent of Nova Scotia's black population arrived there through three main routes: some were black loyalists who came to Canada after the War of Independence, some were slaves, smuggled in on the "underground railroad'' and some had settled there as a result of a special agreement made between the provincial government and Sierra Leone, under which a number of native Africans emigrated to Nova Scotia.

The Nova Scotia group has also focused its attention on the special needs of women with AIDS.

"Our Women and AIDS project draws attention that some of the problems are unique to women. For instance, women may have gynaecological complications -- yet these are not even listed in the standard `AIDS complication lists'! All research and treatment is based on men's bodies and men's symptoms. So there is a lot that needs to be done in the specific care of women.'' He added that he knew of women in Cape Breton who had asked for an HIV test, only to be told that they "didn't fit the image'' and were told it was unnecessary.

In Nova Scotia, much of PWA's work centred around providing care in the home for those with AIDS. They provide help with such tasks as shopping, walking the dog, driving people to medical centres. For much of the time, medication can be administered in the home by visiting nurses and care-workers deal with such chores as changing beds, cooking and generally providing comfort. But, said Mr. Allen, "We also have a programme whereby we will sit up, round the clock with those who have expressed a wish to die at home. So that they don't die alone.'' Mr. Allen, who began his career in Kingston, Ontario when he was asked to set up a workshop, decided, as a result of that, to specialise in education, advocacy, evaluation and support systems.

He admits that when he first started out, attending conferences, talking to school and community groups, he experienced some hostility.

"At first, when I told people what my job was, they would back off a bit! But that has all changed dramatically, now. We do still have to deal with attitude problems, and problems of denial and sexuality issues, but I do feel that we've come a long way in these past few years.'' Asked if he had any message for Bermuda in its fight against AIDS, he grinned and replied, "Yes! Don't wait until someone you know has AIDS to get involved. We need everyone to get involved.'' ROBERT ALLEN: `Bermuda has the expertise.'