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hiv in canada: persistent stigma, awareness and access to care among the challenges to ending the epidemic
though we now have the tools to effectively prevent, diagnose and treat hiv, the challenge is getting them into the hands of those who need them most
muluba habanyama and colin gaudet are two of the more than 65,000 canadians living with hiv. supplied
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gilead sciences canada
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
tremendous strides have been made over the years when it comes to hiv prevention, diagnosis and treatment. however, the epidemic is far from over. the most recent public health data shows a 24.9 per cent increase in new hiv diagnoses in 2022 compared to 2021 — the largest rise in over a decade — bringing the estimated number of people living with hiv in canada to more than 65,000, with 11 percent unaware of their status and 28 per cent not receiving the care they need.
these statistics emphasize the urgency of closing gaps and expanding access to hiv care, so that canada can fully achieve its hiv prevention and treatment goals.
importance of community
colin gaudet lives with hiv, having been diagnosed in 2021 just before his thirtieth birthday. the freelance photographer didn’t have any symptoms and was tested as part of a routine check-up. he experienced a whirlwind of emotions in response, ultimately using the news as the impetus he needed to pursue his dream of performing in drag.
“it was very tumultuous at the beginning,” gaudet says, whose hiv diagnosis coincided with the pandemic lockdowns. “i’ve always wanted to perform, but i put up a lot of walls and came up with reasons not to do it. but with this happening, it inspired me to do something creative for myself.”
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in addition to being a creative outlet, gaudet’s entrance into the world of drag also opened up a supportive community.
“for people who have been newly diagnosed or don’t have family to support them, the drag scene is a safe space,” adds gaudet, whose stage name is rosacea cheeks. he also decided to share his status publicly, talking about his diagnosis on social media and letting people know that he’s willing to lend anyone a helping hand, should they need it.
he says he is grateful he had his best friend to lean on upon getting the news. “part of my healing after the first year was to put myself out there and be public about it, letting people know i’m someone they can message if they’re having a scare or need someone to talk to. i can’t imagine being alone, receiving this news. having that community was really important to me.”
tackling stigma
despite common misconceptions of risk, people of any age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, race or ethnic origin can be affected by hiv. however, hiv disproportionately affects marginalized communities across canada — including men who have sex with men (msm) and people of colour — due to health inequities and other risk factors.
another canadian, muluba habanyama, was born with hiv and has lived with it for 31 years. she recalls how, when she was just seven years old, a former mentor of hers made her eat off paper plates rather than reuseable dishes because of the misconception that hiv can be spread via saliva. as the director of communications and programs for the ontario aids network, habanyama says eliminating the stigma and the discrimination that people with hiv experience is vital.
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“stigma is one of the real killers,” habanyama says. “i’ve seen how stigma prevents people from going to be tested and from going to get care. it’s really heartbreaking. people need to remember that people with hiv are people first.”
habanyama’s advocacy work centres on universal drug coverage in canada. “it is abhorrent that this country does not have this,” she says. “living in ontario and wondering about affording my hiv drugs in 2024 is embarrassing. drugs should not be a privilege; they should be available for everyone.”
supporting black women’s health is another area of focus. “we are often at the bottom of the ladder, and while i root for everybody, i have no qualms about stating i am a black woman living with hiv and i am rooting for us, first and foremost.”
investment in hiv care
eliminating persistent hiv-related stigma; overcoming existing inequalities in accessing testing, treatment and care; achieving sustained viral suppression and enabling better quality of life by treating comorbidities are, among others, the main challenges that need to be overcome to end the hiv epidemic.
the canadian government has a key role to play in supporting the distribution of dispensing hiv medication to reduce barriers to access for vulnerable populations, according to a recent report that compared selected high-income countries’ efforts to end the hiv epidemic. the report also recommended more effective prevention efforts, including awareness campaigns focusing on groups aside from msm and promoting community-based care delivery to improve uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (prep) medications among those at risk.
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“science has already done such a great job that we now have the tools to effectively prevent, diagnose and treat hiv — and even end hiv as a public-health concern,” says jody jollimore, executive director of catie, canada’s source for hiv and hepatitis c information. “the only thing stopping us is getting these tools into the hands of the communities that need them most, and into the hands of the people who might not know they need them.”
gilead sciences continues to be a leader in hiv research, investing in scientific advancements aimed at improving prevention and treatment options for those affected by the virus. in addition to its commitment to the science behind innovative medicines, gilead has also formed partnerships to address the stigma and disparities that are barriers to individuals’ ability to access care.
jollimore says research should focus on how to effectively improve access to these tools in canada.
“canadians believe in universal healthcare,” jollimore adds, “and the thing about universal healthcare is that we all end up paying when people are in poor health. investing in hiv prevention and testing so that people can start treatment is what health economists say will save us all money by keeping hiv under control.”
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to help push hiv treatment research further, jollimore suggests that ending the stigma around hiv is vital.
“don’t shy away from talking about hiv,” jollimore says. “the hiv response would not be so underfunded if it wasn’t so stigmatized. people are still afraid to even mention those three letters at the dinner table. we need to put hiv back on the radar of decision makers.”
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of gilead sciences canada.
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