2024-02-11 16:32:11
(Montreal) The HIV epidemic is experiencing a resurgence in Canada as an “alarming increase” of 24.9% in cases has been reported across the country in 2022, according to the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR). ).
Published yesterday at 11:32 a.m.
Katrine Desautels The Canadian Press
The Public Health Agency of Canada reports 1,833 new reported cases of HIV in 2022. Men aged 30 to 39 are the category with the highest rates.
Saskatchewan and Manitoba are the most affected provinces with 19.0 and 13.0 cases per 100,000 inhabitants respectively. “This increase in new cases has not been observed for more than a decade,” CANFAR said in a press release.
Quebec slightly exceeds the national average which stands at 4.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants with a rate of 4.9.
Remember that if they receive adequate treatment and care, people living with HIV can live long, healthy lives.
CANFAR believes it is possible to end the national HIV epidemic in Canada by the end of 2025. To achieve this, the foundation proposes in its most recent strategic plan to improve access to testing and to HIV care.
The context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has put a lot of pressure on the health system, has changed access to screening in several regions of Canada, explained Alex Filiatrault, CEO of the Canadian Research Foundation, in an interview. on AIDS. According to him, this may have had an impact on the 2022 results, further isolating communities that already have difficulty accessing the health system.
Even though it is far behind Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Quebec finds itself in third place among the provinces with the highest rate of cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The situation is complex, especially in urban centers, whether in Quebec or elsewhere in Canada. We think there is good access to screening, but this is not always the case.
Alex Filiatrault, CEO of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research
For example, in Canada, it is possible to receive a screening kit at home, but if the public does not know that it exists and how to access it, this tool is useless.
PrEP should be accessible to everyone
“Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis”, commonly called PrEP, is an excellent prevention tool, but access to it remains difficult in Canada. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that PrEP demonstrated a 92% reduction in the risk of contracting HIV among men at high risk of contracting it, when taken every day.
PHOTO BY DADO GALDIERI, THE NEW YORK TIMES ARCHIVES
“Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis”, commonly known as PrEP
“Each province has a specific health system. […] PrEP is a proven prevention tool that is excellent for limiting transmission, said Mr. Filiatrault. The challenge is that from province to province, funding for this tool is considerable. As soon as the cost is not covered 100%, and if you do not have the necessary medical insurance to help [à payer] the difference, you find yourself in a situation where you still have to add a financial burden to your health every month. It’s not easy for everyone to afford it. »
According to the Montreal organization RÉZO, the monthly cost of continuous PrEP (one pill per day) varies between $907 and $995, without public or private insurance. When covered by the Quebec Health Insurance Plan (RAMQ), the monthly cost of PrEP was $95.31 in 2021.
“It’s proven that communities that have access to PrEP help a lot. It is an extremely effective tool which can help in the medium term with all new preventions,” affirmed Mr. Filiatrault, adding that we must “collaborate with the different levels of government in order to arrive at a point where this tool is accessible to everyone “.
More affected groups
HIV can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity. However, certain populations are disproportionately affected.
In its strategic plan, CANFAR highlights the importance of “funding research focused on the health and well-being issues faced by Indigenous peoples, African, Caribbean and Black people, racialized women and people who use substances and inject drugs, in addition to maintaining investments in scientific research in general.
“These groups are those who have always had difficulty having easy access to the health system. […] The lack of access has consequences on the health of these communities that we have identified and targeted to provide greater access to screening,” explained Mr. Filiatrault.
He noted that investments in research and science have gone a long way in improving the lives of people living with HIV in the past, but this level of success has not been achieved in preventing new cases.
To have access to screening, the tools must be promoted through awareness campaigns and by local organizations and agencies. This is one of CANFAR’s proposals to end the HIV epidemic in the country.
There is no vaccine against HIV, but there are several ways to avoid transmitting or contracting this virus.
“We know that the tools we have right now in Canada, which are approved, could have a huge impact on reducing new cases of HIV. If we do not provide access to these tools, we will not be able to have an impact,” declared Mr. Filiatrault.
The objective is to successfully reach the individuals concerned and give them the information so that they can make decisions about their health.
It is estimated that approximately one in 10 Canadians living with HIV are unaware of their status and therefore cannot benefit from antiretroviral treatment. Local, provincial and national campaigns are essential to stop the epidemic.
The Canadian Press’ health content receives funding through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for editorial choices.
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