hiv infections on the rise in canada despite global decrease
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michael kwag, left, executive director, community-based research centre, and jody jollimore, executive director, catie, at the 26th international aids conference in rio.
catie
the number of hiv infections has increased in canada despite a global decrease but experts say the country has the resources to wipe out the world epidemic.
there were 2,517 new hiv infections in canada in 2024, a 23 per cent increase over 2022, when 2,050 new infections were estimated, according to the public health agency of canada’s latest data.
michael kwag, executive director of the community based research centre, a non-profit group that advocates for people of diverse sexuality and gender in vancouver, called the increase “really disappointing.”
“we are … one of the wealthiest nations in the world with a lot of the capacity to drive action, but what we are seeing is that there is a significant gap in terms of funding that’s made at the community level, which is critical to making sure that these new tools and all of this new knowledge is accessed and getting to the people who need it.”
kwag, who was in rio de janeiro this week for the 26th international aids conference, said at a time when the u.s., under the trump administration, has pulled funding for international aid and health research, canada has an opportunity to be a leader in ending hiv.
advocates say while federal government funding has been stagnant for a decade as inflation and the cost of living has skyrocketed, now they fear it will be pulled all together by 2028. if this happens, canada could see a resurgence in a public health crisis that could have been prevented, he said.
“(the government) has offered one year funding, but they’ve been pretty mum about what happens after that, which is alarming because at this point we would already be planning, preparing for our five-year project plans going forward, and so … the fact that they haven’t been able to commit to anything beyond march 2028 is concerning,” kwag said.
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he said advocates are hearing that the two main federal funding programs — the hiv and hepatitis c community action fund and the harm reduction fund — could be cut.
andré gagnon, a communications adviser for health canada, said the public health agency of canada is working on 2025 budget commitments while also “modernizing and streamlining its approach to grants and contributions.”
“this approach will continue to include dedicated support for community-based organizations, recognizing their essential role in canada’s public health response. as a result, the timing of the next phac solicitation has not yet been determined,” he said in an email.
he added to ensure continuity of essential programs and services beyond march 2027, funding recipients are being offered the chance to apply for an additional year of funding, through march 2028.
asked what happens to the funding after 2028, gagnon said “we cannot speculate about future decisions.”
according to un aids data, several countries in africa have had a near-80-per-cent reduction in new infections, while western european countries such as the u.k., the netherlands, ireland, portugal and switzerland have reported drops in hiv infection.
canada is lagging behind despite an initial leadership role with centres like the b.c. centre for excellence in hiv/aids.
hiv prep (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and pep (post-exposure prophylaxis) prevent new infections. diverse testing options, including rapid self-testing and online testing platforms, make it easier than ever to get tested.
and there’s a clear scientific consensus that when someone living with hiv takes their treatment and achieves an undetectable viral load, they can’t pass hiv on sexually to others, said kwag.
“yet still, with all these developments, canada is failing to turn the tide,” he added.
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the problem is more community organizations across canada are closing because they can’t afford to stay open, says jody jollimore, executive director at catie, a canadian group that provides information on hiv and hepatitis c.
jollimore, who was also at the aids conference in rio, says 11 countries are meeting hiv targets, but canada isn’t one of them.
“sadly it’s happening to a demographic that people care least about as a society. people who use (drug) substances, people who are gay or queer, people who are indigenous or black folks,” jollimore said.
he said another problem, not just with hiv but many other infectious or communicable diseases, is that when you pull funding they come back and the numbers start to go up, especially in rural or remote communities that don’t have the support.
for example, he said many indigenous communities don’t have an hiv organization.
“some of them don’t even have a health-care provider, right? so, how do you test and treat people in those types of communities?”
the community based research centre is calling on all 2s/lgbtqia+ communities, organizations and allies across canada to sign an open letter urging the government to commit to sustained, multi-year funding for community-based hiv groups.
it also recommends the government complete a study on hiv funding that meaningfully includes the voices of 2s/lgbtqia+ communities, people living with hiv and advocates.
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