FSIN Vice-Chief Kimberley Jonathan speaking at a press event in Saskatoon Monday morning. Photo by Joel Willick.
Health professionals and First Nation leaders are calling on the Saskatchewan government to declare a health emergency over HIV and AIDS rates in the province.
Recent reports have shown very high rates of the infectious disease, especially in First Nation communities.
According to these reports, Saskatchewan has HIV rates that are more than double the national average, while 7 out of 10 of those infected are either First Nation or Metis.
Dr. Stephen Sanche, a specialist in infectious disease, was joined by a group of First Nation leaders in Saskatoon on Monday morning calling for change.
“We are calling on the provincial government to declare HIV/AIDS in Saskatchewan to be a medical emergency,” he said.
Dr. Sanche laid out several troubling stats around HIV infection rates in Saskatchewan, including the fact that the numbers are increasing.
“What we want to emphasize is that immediate action is needed,” he said. “We are asking for coordination between the provincial government, federal government and Indigenous leaders to attach this problem in Saskatchewan.”
Dr. Sanche was joined by several First Nation leaders who are also calling for a state of emergency.
“This disease does not discriminate,” said FSIN Vice-Chief, Kimberley Jonathan. “It’s not just a First Nations concern — all peoples should be treated with respect and dignity.”
“At Saskatoon Tribal Council, one of the things we have been working on is working with tribal councils and Health Canada, but one thing we have been missing is the provincial input,” said STC Chief, Felix Thomas.
Also joining the group was Danita Wahpoosewyan from Sakimay First Nation, who has been living with HIV for the past 11 years.
Danita Wahpoosewyan, Photo by Joel Willick
Since her diagnosis, Wahpoosewyan has become very involved in the community, offering support for those who contract the disease as well as working to dispel some of the misconceptions around HIV/AIDS.
“It wasn’t very long ago where my own family wouldn’t let me kiss my own grandchildren and that hurt me,” she said. “Today my daughter is educated on the disease, so things are different.”
Danita says she has seen many people she has been close to die and she hopes change is on the horizon.
The group says declaring a state of emergency on the issue will raise a red flag on the issue and help lead to immediate change.