First Nations, Metis Involved In New HIV Strategy

First Nations, Metis Involved In New HIV Strategy

Thursday, May 06, 2010 at 15:22

 

 

The province unveiled a multi-year HIV strategy today in Saskatoon.

 

Saskatchewan has seen a significant increase in new cases of HIV since 2003, and currently has the highest rates in Canada at twice the national average.

 

New HIV cases in the province are associated predominantly with injection drug use, with First Nations and Métis women under 30 years of age accounting for a disproportionate number of those cases.

 

According to Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Moira McKinnon, the goal is to reduce the number of new cases of HIV, and improve the quality of life for those living with the diagnosis.

 

She also says the strategy partners with First Nations and Metis organizations, as well as health regions and community groups.

 

The three-year strategy is focusing on four main areas — surveillance, clinical management, prevention and harm reduction, and community engagement and education.

 

It is estimated that 25 per cent of HIV cases in the province are undiagnosed.

 

Saskatoon Tribal Council Vice-Tribal Chief Geraldine Arcand says HIV/AIDS is a crisis in First Nations communities, and it will take a strong strategy to see the number of positive tests decline.

 

Health officials say the more aggressive testing included in the strategy will result in HIV case numbers continuing to climb over the next two to three years before levelling off and declining.