Minister of Health, Honourable Terry Lake’s speech at IAS 2015

INTRODUCTION

• I would like to first acknowledge with respect the history, customs and culture of the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations people on whose traditional lands and home we meet today.
• On behalf of the Premier, the Government and the citizens of British Columbia, welcome to Vancouver and to the official opening of the IAS 8th Conference on HIV Pathogenesis Treatment and Prevention.
• It’s great to have IAS back in Vancouver.
• Nearly two decades ago, in 1996, the Vancouver International AIDS Conference changed the course of the HIV pandemic forever.
• As you may recall, the theme of the 1996 conference was One World, One Hope.
• I’m not sure if participants realized how fitting that theme was and to what extent it would become a reality.
• The emerging and exciting evidence of highly active antiretroviral therapy – known as HAART – generated unprecedented optimism and was formally embraced at the 1996 Conference.
• As many of you know, HAART can lengthen and improve the quality of life of those living with HIV.
• In fact, sustained HAART treatment can add more than 50 years of quality life for people living with HIV.
• And we know now that it virtually eliminates HIV transmission.
• Over the last decade, HAART has given rise to our “Treatment as Prevention” strategy – not only does HAART prevent HIV transmission, it also prevents the disease from progressign to AIDS and premature death.
• A decade ago, my good friend, Dr. Julio Montaner, Director of the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, and local Co-Chair of the Conference, came to us with the proposal to implement Treatment as Prevention¨ in British Columbia.
• After a number of discussions and thorough review of the evidence, we did so.
• And we have since expanded access to testing, treatment and support throughout the province.
• As a result, we have documented impressive gains.
• AIDS, and AIDS-related deaths, are down by over 85% in British Columbia.
• We have virtually eliminated vertical transmission of HIV, and newly diagnosed HIV infections overall are down by two-thirds.
• As you may know, BC had the worst epidemic in Canada.
• Today, that is no longer the case.
• In fact, HIV/AIDS-related deaths in BC have decreased by more than 95% since 1996.
• Treatment as Prevention¨ is a cornerstone and cutting-edge strategy in the global effort to reduce the spread of HIV.
• It is endorsed by many jurisdictions around the world including: the United States, China, France, Spain, Sierra Leone, Argentina, Panama and Queensland, Australia.
• And I’m happy to report that this week Brazil, who is also implementing Treatment as Prevention¨, will sign an official Letter of Intent with the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.
• This agreement will give Brazil the benefit of the Centre for Exellence’s expertise and support as they implement Treatment as Prevention¨ – and benefit the Centre with shared learning.
• Treatment as Prevention¨ has been a game-changer in the efforts against HIV and AIDS.
• But more work is needed to reach and engage the populations in most need.
• Services should meet people where they are, and when they are ready to engage.
• This is why BC’s Ministry of Health funds the distribution of harm reduction supplies, opioid substitution treatment, and supervised injection services – such as Insite here in Vancouver, the first legal supervised injection site in North America.
• These programs and services have been proven time and again as necessary and effective parts of a comprehensive strategy to address problematic substance use – and to reduce associated harms such as infections with HIV or other blood borne pathogens like hepatitis C.
• B.C. has successfully developed a strong opioid substitution treatment program and we continue to be a leader in providing methadone and suboxone treatment.
• But we will never truly succeed if we don’t effectively battle persistent stigma, discrimination and intolerance – as well as legal frameworks that are not based on sound scientific evidence.
• To facilitate this work, the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, through the kind support of an anonymous donor, has developed an 8,000 square foot Clinical Research facility in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.
• The Hope to Health Research Clinic is generating state-of-the-art scientific evidence to guide, monitor and evaluate our public health policy in the areas of HIV, addictions and viral hepatitis.
• I am pleased to announce here tonight that the Government of BC will provide the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation with $2 million in funding to help the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS further expand the Hope to Health Research Clinic.
• This will help develop an additional 20,000 square feet to the existing facility.
• Through science and research, collectively, we have made remarkable advances in HIV.
• The Hope to Health Research Centre will continue to make strides, because our work is not done.
• The United Nations AIDS strategy of 90-90-90 has indicated that ending AIDS will require uninterrupted access to lifelong treatment for tens of millions of people.
• The strategy’s backbone is Treatment as Prevention¨.
• To curb HIV and reach the promise of an AIDS-free generation, we must ramp up and fully roll out the 90-90-90 strategy.
• It can be done, and the people who can make this happen are in this room today.
• Thank you for what you do.
• On behalf of British Columbia, I wish you a successful conference and invite you to enjoy our beautiful province.
• Thank you.