Yellowknife – Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) are preventable, treatable and in many cases curable. However, these infections remain a significant public health concern in Canada and around the world.
Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories, on behalf of Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, announced $1 million, through the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund (CAF), to support FOXY, a community-based organization based in Yellowknife, addressing HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBI.
The CAF supports community-based interventions to address HIV, hepatitis C, and other STBBI, among key populations disproportionately affected by these infections. FOXY’s project, SMASH: Preventing HIV, Hepatitis C & STBBI through Art, will increase knowledge of effective evidence-based STBBI prevention measures among Northern and Indigenous young men, including trans men and non-binary youth, between the ages of 13-17. The program aims to improve access to effective STBBI prevention, testing and treatment by providing culturally safe and stigma-free education and training through school and community-based workshops in the North.
The Government of Canada is committed to working with and supporting 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 by 2030.
“Community-based organizations like FOXY play a critical role in working directly with vulnerable populations to improve access to effective STBBI prevention and to provide culturally-safe and stigma-free education and training for health and social service providers. Projects like these take us one more step closer towards reaching our global targets by 2030.” – Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health