Whitehorse – Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced more than $1.1 million in funding through the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund (CAF) to support the work of community-based organizations addressing HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) in Whitehorse.
STBBI are preventable, treatable and in many cases curable. However, these infections remain a significant public health concern in Canada, especially among Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, Black and racialized communities as well as other equity-deserving communities. Systemic stigma, exclusion and discrimination create barriers that prevent people from getting tested or accessing the care they need when they need it. That is why the Government of Canada has put a priority on supporting community-based projects that incorporate evidence-based strategies that address these barriers.
Initially announced in August 2022 at the 24th annual International AIDS Conference, the HIV self-test initiative is bolstered by an additional $8.6 million. This funding provides support to 50 community-based organizations through March 2024 to offset costs associated with efforts to distribute the HIV self-test kits to their key populations. Self-test kits offer a safe, reliable, anonymous and confidential way for people to determine their infection status. They are an important tool for combatting the stigma and discrimination that present barriers to care.
The Government of Canada will continue to work with community-based organizations, Indigenous partners, provinces and territories, researchers, public health, and the health sector to prevent new infections and support the global goal of ending HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBI as public health concerns.
“Community-based organizations play a fundamental role to improve the health of people in Canada who have HIV and promote culturally safe community-led models to increase testing in remote, rural and northern settings. These organizations understand the needs of the communities they serve. This Government of Canada funding will support the critical work of community based organizations and help people living with HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBI, as well as those at risk of infection.” – Mark Holland, Minister of Health