The BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) has been awarded a $200,000 CAD grant from the MâAâC AIDS Fund to support the innovative HIV Treatment as Prevention (TasP¨) strategy.
The grant will aid research, treatment, and education at the BC-CfE, as well as support the International HIV Treatment as Prevention Workshop to be held in Vancouver, Canada from April 1-4, 2014.
Pioneered by the BC-CfE, the Treatment as Prevention strategy involves widespread HIV testing and immediate provision of anti-HIV drugs known as HAART to medically eligible HIV positive individuals. Treatment has been shown to virtually eliminate progression of the disease to AIDS and premature death, and simultaneously stop transmission of the virus.
Since implementing the TasP¨ strategy, British Columbia has seen HIV-related morbidity and mortality decline by over 90 per cent since 1995. Over the same time period, the number of new HIV diagnoses has fallen from more than 800 per year in 1995 to 238 in 2012. The strategy has been embraced internationally by
China, parts of the U.S., and most recently adopted as the national HIV policy in France, and Brazil.
“Momentum continues to build to implement this strategy proven to save lives and prevent HIV transmission,” said Dr. Julio Montaner, director of the BC-CfE.”We are honoured to receive the support from the MâAâC AIDS Fund, whose generosity will help us bring this epidemic to its knees.”
The Mâ¢Aâ¢C AIDS Fund is fully supported by the sale of VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipglass. Each VIVA GLAM sells for $16.50 CAD and 100% of the selling prices goes to the M·A·C AIDS Fund to support HIV/AIDS programs. Thanks to their efforts, the M·A·C AIDS Fund has raised more than $315 million USD over the past 20 years to help men, women, and children living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.