Army dog given posthumous medal must visit

Sasha is the 65th animal to be awarded the PDSA's Dickin Medal since 1943 A British Army dog killed alongside her handler in Afghanistan is to be honoured with what is called the highest military award for an animal.

Sasha, a four-year-old yellow Labrador who was trained to hunt out explosives, is credited with saving the lives of scores of soldiers and civilians.

She will be awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal, which the charity says is the animal version of the Victoria Cross.

She died alongside L/Cpl Kenneth Rowe in a Taliban attack in 2008.

Sasha was deployed with handlers from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, attached to the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.

Alongside her handler, she was tasked with carrying out advance patrols to find safe routes for soldiers and sniffing out weapons and IEDs.

The PDSA said: "Sasha's determination to search and push forward - despite gruelling conditions and relentless Taliban attacks - was a morale boost to the soldiers who entrusted their lives to her weapon-finding capability.

"On one occasion recalled by regimental colleagues, Sasha was searching a building in Garmsir when she detected two mortars and a large quantity of weaponry, including explosives and mines.

"This find alone undoubtedly saved the lives of many soldiers and civilians."

In 2008 she was assigned to 24-year-old L/Cpl Rowe and the pair were considered the best in the Kandahar region.

Lance Corporal Kenneth Rowe died alongside Sasha when the pair were ambushed during a routine patrol L/Cpl Rowe and Sasha working together in Afghanistan before their deaths

They died together on 24 July 2008 when their routine patrol was ambushed by a rocket-propelled grenade attack.

Continue reading the main story White Vision, a pigeon, was the first animal to receive the award in December 1943 for contributing to the rescue of an RAF crew in World War Two.Princess, a pigeon, was honoured in May 1946 for "one of the finest performances in the war record of the Pigeon Service"Upstart, a police horse, was awarded the medal in 1947 for remaining on duty in Bethnal Green, London, despite a flying bomb showering her with glass Simon, a cat, was posthumously awarded the medal for his work catching rats on board HMS Amethyst in 1949, despite being wounded by shell blastApollo, a German Shepherd with the New York Police Department, was granted the honour on behalf of all search and rescue dogs who worked tirelessly in the aftermath of the September 11 attacksLucky ,a German Shepherd and RAF Police anti-terrorist tracker dog, received the award in 2007 for her exceptional talent in locating the enemy during the Malaya campaign L/Cpl Rowe, from West Moor near Newcastle, had been due to return home the day before he died but wanted to stay on to complete a planned operation because he was concerned about a lack of cover for comrades.

Sasha had 15 confirmed finds of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), mortars and hidden weaponry.

Col Neil Smith QHVS, director of the Army Veterinary and Remount Services, said: "This prestigious award recognises how her devotion and skills undoubtedly saved the lives of many troops in Afghanistan, and acknowledges the excellent work our military working dogs and their handlers do.

"Sadly, this award is posthumous as both Sasha and her handler, Lance Corporal Ken Rowe, were killed in enemy action in Afghanistan in 2008.

"Our thoughts remain with L/Cpl Rowe's family and this award will give us the opportunity to once more celebrate his and Sasha's immeasurable contributions to military operations."

Sasha is the 65th animal to be awarded the medal since it was launched in 1943.

A news report from 2008 when L/Cpl Rowe and Sasha were killed in Afghanistan

Other winners of the Dickin Medal - named after the charity's founder Maria Dickin - include 32 World War Two messenger pigeons, three horses and a cat.

PDSA director general Jan McLoughlin said: "The award is even more poignant as we approach the centenary of World War One and are reminded of the huge debt we owe the animals who serve in times of conflict.

"This medal, recognised worldwide as the animals' Victoria Cross, honours both Sasha's unwavering service and her ultimate sacrifice.

"Her story exemplifies the dedication of man's best friend and reminds us all of the amazing contribution they make to our lives."

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HIV home test kits given go-ahead/must visit

The test could involve taking a small drop of blood from a finger Kits allowing people to test themselves for HIV at home can be bought over the counter in the UK for the first time - but none exist yet in Britain.

The change in the law means it is now legal for people to test and diagnose themselves at home.

Previously, people could carry out tests they ordered online at home and send away their results, but were diagnosed over the phone.

It is hoped the move will help the UK's 25,000 undiagnosed HIV-positive people.

No tests have yet been developed that pass European guidelines, said the government's health regulator.

Home testing for HIV was approved by the government last September but the law only came into effect on Sunday.

The Terrence Higgins Trust HIV charity said the tests could be introduced into the UK this year or in early 2015.

The UK is leading Europe in making the kits available over the counter, but they were introduced to the US in 2012.

Testing could involve taking a small drop of blood from a finger, or a swab from the inside of the mouth.

'Key strut' of HIV prevention

Dr Michael Brady, medical director at the Terrence Higgins Trust, said it was a "shame" the change in the law was coming into effect when no viable tests were available.

The charity recently ran a scheme where participants were able to test themselves at home, send the results away by post and then receive a diagnosis over the phone, or by text message, if negative.

Dr Brady said: "What we had not anticipated was just how popular the scheme would be, with demand very nearly outstripping supply on more than one occasion."

The trust found that 97% of 915 users in its study said they would use the HIV self-sampling again. The charity said that in one weekend it received 3,000 orders for the test.

He said such feedback indicated home testing would form a "key strut" of the charity's prevention work in the UK.

But Dr Brady added: "It [home testing] is not for everyone, which is why it is important to have a range of options available."

He said it was important for users to access NHS facilities such as counselling and treatment if they found out at home they were HIV-positive.

'Convenient and discreet'

A spokesperson for the Department for Health said: "The stigma surrounding HIV may mean that some people are afraid or reluctant to go to a clinic to be tested.

"The change in the law will mean self-test kits are now legal to buy, making the test process more convenient and discreet."

She said although no kits meeting European standards were available in the UK, the government "expected this to change" in the next year.

"HIV testing remains free on the NHS - anybody with concerns can visit their GUM Clinic, GP or contact the Terrence Higgins Trust's confidential helpline. Self-sampling kits are also available to buy," she added.

Online tests 'unreliable'

Heather Leake Date, HIV specialist pharmacist and spokesperson for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said the tests would help reduce the risk of new HIV infections.

She said: "HIV self-testing kits may help increase diagnosis by providing more choice for people who have been at risk but are reluctant to get a test in person from existing services."

Ms Leake Date said kits currently available online could be unreliable and give "false results".

She added: "When kits become available, people should buy from a trusted source and check for the CE mark, which means it will have been assessed for quality and safety."

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