‘hiv is the virus, stigma is the disease’ in canada's fight against hiv/aids

his reaction, he says, is a common one that comes with a diagnosis of hiv (human immunodeficiency virus) : he thought his life was over. so, he thought he might just move that up too.

understanding the progress of hiv/aids: current statistics and impact

while disproportionately affecting men who have sex with men, drug users and sex workers, hiv soon became a broad-based disease, and then an epidemic. in the four decades since, more than 35 million people across the globe have died of aids-related illness, according to the canadian foundation for aids research (canfar). today, an estimated 36 million are living with hiv. in canada, roughly 62,000 people are living with hiv and 2,400 are newly diagnosed every year, a slight increase over 2016.

while new infections have decreased by 59 per cent around the world since the peak in 1995, according to unaids , and are also down in canada, particularly among younger groups, according to the public health agency of canada , they are increasing in specific areas and among certain populations: the prairie provinces (particularly saskatchewan, which continues to be the highest in the country), black and indigenous communities, and women.

advancements in hiv/aids treatment and the ongoing stigma

“don’t get me started,” says davis, who now works as the gay men’s sexual health coordinator at the gilbert centre in barrie, ont., which offers services and support for people living with and affected by hiv and other sexually transmitted infections. when he was first diagnosed, he ran up against many health-care providers who were woefully undereducated.

muluba habanyama, canfar national spokesperson and hiv advocate at the ontario hiv treatment network , has encountered the same, and worse. “doctors at walk-in clinics are very ignorant about the virus,” says habanyama, who was born with hiv, passed on by her infected parents. “one family doctor would not take me on as a patient because he thought the condition was too serious and he didn’t know about it. [others] have made [derogatory] comments towards me. a friend went to a walk-in and when she disclosed that she was hiv positive the doctor said, ‘oh, you must have had a fun time in your twenties.’”

“health care professionals are people too, but they should know better [than to stigmatize],” says dr. sean b. rourke, canfar’s scientific advisor, clinical neuropsychologist and scientist with map centre for urban health solutions at st. michael’s hospital in toronto, and professor of psychiatry at the university of toronto.

muluba habanyama, canfar national spokesperson and hiv advocate at the ontario hiv treatment network, was born with hiv passed on by her infected parents. canfar

the struggle with disclosure: hiv patients and healthcare services

lisa mcdonald, communications director at casey house in toronto, a specialty hospital that cares for people living with and at risk of hiv, says one of the issues contributing to stigma is the disclosure requirements on intake forms. she says, according to research by advocacy group positive effect , one in five people living with hiv are denied health services because of their condition.

progress in hiv testing, future goals, and targets

you can’t treat what you don’t know, which is why testing is crucial. rourke is also the director of the canadian institutes of health research-funded reach nexus , a team of experts focused on ending canada’s hiv epidemic by 2025. his research with reach allowed canada’s first hiv self-test to be approved by health canada and to be available in some pharmacies for free. but he acknowledges wider distribution is a challenge.

in 2021, the team developed the i’m ready, test mobile app for ordering self-testing kits that can be delivered or picked up at over 80 locations across the country. another resource, i-am health , also offers free self-testing kits, health advice and support services for those who test positive.

in 2014, the joint united nations programme on hiv/aids and the who established global targets for the elimination of aids by 2030, including the 90-90-90 goal that, by 2020, 90 per cent of people living with hiv know their status; 90 per cent receive antiretroviral treatment; and 90 per cent of those on treatment achieve viral suppression. while canada met the first and third targets overall, of those diagnosed, 87 per cent were estimated to be on treatment.

in 2018, canada also endorsed the global u = u campaign , which stands for undetectable equals untransmittable, and aims to improve the mental, physical and sexual health of those living with hiv by knowing they cannot transmit the virus.

dr. sean b. rourke says while a vaccine is “still a way off”, breakthroughs in medications have been a game-changer. unity health

assessing the state of hiv/aids in canada: regional differences and ongoing challenges

“i’m grateful i’m in a position where speaking publicly about living with hiv isn’t a threat to me, i’m not worried about losing my job, about my family disowning me,” says davis, who also hosts a rogers tv show in barrie called let’s be perfectly queer , which focuses on issues relevant to the lgbtq+ community, including hiv.