France latest country to implement HIV strategy pioneered in Canada, Canada still without national HIV strategy
Vancouver, B.C. [October 4, 2013] – France has announced the adoption of the Treatment as Prevention (TasP¨) strategy, as pioneered by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE), to combat HIV and AIDS.
France becomes the latest country to adopt TasP¨, originally endorsed by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in 2010. Since then, in 2011 China became the first nation to adopt the strategy, and the U.S. identified TasP¨ as a key strategy to achieve an AIDS-free generation in 2012. More recently, in July 2013, the World Health Organization fully incorporated TasP¨ in the new Global HIV Treatment Guidelines.
“The implementation of TasP¨ is critical to control the global HIV and AIDS pandemic,” said Dr. Julio Montaner, director of the BC-CfE.”We applaud France’s leadership in implementing Treatment as Prevention to save lives and prevent HIV transmission.”
Treatment as Prevention involves widespread HIV testing and immediate offer of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to people living with HIV. Treatment has been shown to virtually eliminate progression of the disease to AIDS and premature death, and simultaneously stop transmission of the virus.
British Columbia was the first jurisdiction to implement TasP¨. As a result, B.C. 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. However, B.C. remains the only province to implement TasP¨ in Canada, and is the only province to demonstrate a consistent decline in new cases of HIV.
“Canada’s lack of federal leadership in this field is baffling,” said Dr. Montaner.”We have a plan, it’s been proven to work, yet Ottawa continues to ignore the evidence. Too many lives are at stake for us not to act now. We need to urgently renew the National AIDS Strategy, and embrace TasP¨ to free the next generation of the burden of HIV/AIDS.”
Every year, 3,300 men and women in Canada are diagnosed with HIV and an estimated 71,300 Canadians are now living with HIV, a number that could double within the next 15 years if the current rate of new infections continues and treatment is not expanded across Canada.
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About the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) is Canada’s largest HIV/AIDS research, treatment and education facility and is internationally recognized as an innovative world leader in combating HIV/AIDS and related diseases. BC-CfE is based at St. Paul’s Hospital, Providence Health Care, a teaching hospital of the University of British Columbia. The BC-CfE works in close collaboration with key provincial stakeholders, including health authorities, health care providers, academics from other institutions, and the community to decrease the health burden of HIV and AIDS. By developing, monitoring and disseminating comprehensive research and treatment programs for HIV and related illnesses, the BC-CfE helps improve the health of British Columbians living with HIV.
For additional information or to request interviews, please contact:
Kevin Hollett
BC-CfE
Phone: 604-682-2344 ext. 66536
Mobile: 778-848-3420
Email: khollett@bccfe.ca