Health board

How poverty and gender impact on people’s susceptibility to infection with HIV and their vulnerability regarding a family member with Aids is the theme of a free public talk by Dr Ian Stephenson tomorrow at 8pm in the Boole II Lecture Theatre, University College Cork.

Dr Stephenson has worked for 20 years in Africa and teaches on the diploma in development studies at the college.

Acupuncture Awareness Week runs from January 22nd-29th. During the week, acupuncturists will offer trial sessions, free information talks and seminars.

Contact the Acupuncture Council of Ireland for more details. acupuncturecouncil.ie or tel: 1850 300600.

Irish charity Comber Romanian Orphanage Appeal is seeking disability professionals to work as volunteers on projects in Romania.

The volunteers will travel to the country for five weeks between June and August and they will have to to raise €1,850 to cover their costs. See comber.ie or tel: 087 9022216. The closing date for applications is January 24th.

Cyclist Ryan Paetzold has just begun the Tour d’Afrique as a fundraising effort for the Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups. On his four- month cycle across the continent from Cairo to Cape Town, he will also take early morning photographs of the sun, which will be exhibited on his return. Follow his journey on facebook.com/pages/Follow-Ryan-on-the-Tour-dAfrique.

A series of one-day parenting courses will be held over the next few months in Bewley’s Hotel, Leopardstown, Co Dublin by Practical Parenting mentor Sheila O’Malley.

The dates include January 29th, February 19th, March 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th. Cost €80 per person. See practicalparenting.ie or tel: 086 8759086.