On December 1, communities around the world will be celebrating World AIDS Day – a day dedicated to raising awareness about HIV prevention and treatment. This year’s theme is “Getting to zero – zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths.” That may seem like a tall order but Interior Health, community partners, and physicians are working together to implement a new program that has the potential to get us there.
Received the press release above and decided to ask some hard hitting questions – and got these answers:
These were provided by Dr. Trevor Corneil, Medical Health Officer and Program Lead for STOP HIV in Interior Health.
Could you supply information on how many residents of IHA region have aids and are being treated?
There are between 500 and 550 persons known to have HIV in the IHA region, and approximately 400 are on antiretroviral treatment. It is estimated that there are between 100 and 150 persons who do not know they have HIV. Many of these persons do not fit the ‘high risk’ profile, meaning they are not actively engaged in unsafe injection drug use or unsafe sexual practices.
Over one quarter of the population who have aids don’t know it. How would you know?
The estimate of persons who are not aware that they have HIV is based on results from persons who donate blood (donated blood is routinely screened for HIV) as well as research done with other groups who are routinely tested for HIV. Those who are identified through either process are informed immediately and engaged in treatment.
Vernon Merritt and Trail are hot spots for aids or just test areas?
Vernon, Merritt, and Trail are our initial implementation sites. Our goal is to implement the program IH wide over the next two years. Our work in the implementation sites will be closely evaluated. This will give us the opportunity to identify any changes that may be needed as we expand the program IH wide. These implementation sites were selected based on the need to have a rural /urban mix, as well as the community’s current capacity and readiness to provide HIV prevention, testing and treatment. The sites also had to provide a sufficient numbers of acute care visits to support the evaluation of routine testing.
What is the concern in rural BC – if much of the infection is on the Lower Mainland?
HIV is an issue in communities across BC. It is a disease with highly effective treatment, and as such, every person identified and engaged in care represents a significant number of high quality and productive years of life, and a significant cost savings to the health system.
STOP HIV is a province wide program that was announced by the Ministry of Health in November 2012 – more information can be found here: http://www.newsroom.gov.
All BC health authorities are implementing this program.