Metis Make Call for AIDS Research Funding

Metis Make Call for AIDS Research Funding

Thursday, December 02, 2004 at 14:47

The federal government is being asked to provide Metis-specific funding to address the growing AIDS-HIV crisis in Aboriginal communities.

The call came yesterday from the Metis National Council.

MNC vice-president Audrey Poitras says informing Metis people about AIDS-HIV is the most valuable weapon in the fight against the spread of the disease.

Poitras says it’s estimated that more than one Aboriginal person is infected with the AIDS virus every day.

However, Poitras says there’s a lack of Metis-specific research and information related to this condition — statistics Poitras says would be a real help in combatting the disease.

Poitras says Ottawa needs to come through with resources that would allow Metis groups to provide the necessary programs and services.