New HIV infections in Canada rose 11% between 2014 and 2019 — despite highly effective testing, treatment, and prevention methods. Significant outbreaks of syphilis, gonorrhea and hepatitis C are also causing alarm. Yet, no money was attached to the 2019 federal Action Plan on STBBIs. Canada is hosting the International AIDS Conference in 2022 but failed to meet its global targets for HIV transmission rates last year, and is not on track to meet its 2030 commitments. It’s time for the federal government to turn talk into action.
After years of stagnant funding and the disruptions from COVID-19, Canada’s response to HIV, hepatitis C, and STBBIs have weakened. Despite having more tools than ever, troubling transmission trends are emerging across the country. Canada’s largest community-based and human rights organizations addressing HIV, hepatitis C, and STBBIs are calling on the federal government to turn talk into action.
Send a letter to the Minister of Health to call for more funding to address HIV, hepatitis C, and STBBIs: bit.ly/STBBIfunding
(This content provided by The Ontario AIDS Network, OAN.red)