The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS welcomes the federal government’s
worldwide leadership and strong commitment to The Global Fund
Thursday 22 August 2019- The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) commends the Government of Canada for its pledge of $930 Million to The Global Fund to accelerate the control of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This announcement signals to other donor countries that decisive leadership is critical to address these significant global health challenges, particularly when investment in The Global Fund – which pool’s the world’s resources to invest in programs to fight disease – is under threat of plateauing.
“Within his first six weeks in office, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, recognized and endorsed the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Target, an early signal of his intentions to invest in and support some of the most vulnerable populations both in Canada and abroad. Today’s significant contribution by the Government of Canada to The Global Fund further cements its leadership role in treating and eliminating HIV and other major public health threats such as malaria and TB. We are pleased that our government has not only met, but exceeded, The Global Fund’s ask for Canada,” says Dr. Julio Montaner, Executive Director and Physician-in-Chief of the BC-CfE.
HIV and AIDS remain a persistent and pervasive public health threat in Canada and around the world. Globally, nearly 1 million people died of AIDS in 2017 and 1.8 million were newly infected. In Canada, over 65,000 people are living with HIV. More than 2,500 Canadians are newly diagnosed with HIV each year.
“Today, we are in a strong position to control HIV/AIDS, with the implementation of the made in BC Treatment as Prevention¨ strategy, which has served as the basis for the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Target,” added Dr. Montaner.”However, we still need the continued political will and investment to make our goal to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 a reality. Canada’s pledge is an example to all global leaders that now is not the time to limit contributions to The Global Fund; it is time for action and socially responsible investment. The lives of millions around the world are in their hands.”
Canada leads in HIV prevention
Today’s Canadian government investment is one of many historic advances Canada has made in HIV research, treatment and prevention over the past three decades. These include the country’s leadership role in the development of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), which is the global gold standard of care for the treatment and prevention of transmission of HIV. Furthermore, Treatment as Prevention¨(TasP¨) pioneered in Canada by the BC-CfE and the backbone of the UN 90-90-90 Target. The UN 90-90-90 Target proposes by 2020 to have at least 90% of infected people aware of their status, at least 90% of them on HAART, and at least 90% of those on sustained care and achieving an undetectable HIV viral load. HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis C and other contagious diseases are prime targets for TasP¨, which emphasizes early diagnosis followed by immediate access to treatment and care. This decreases morbidity, mortality and disease transmission in a highly cost-effective manner.
The work of the BC-CfE has expanded over the last decade beyond HIV/AIDS to include other contagious diseases, including viral hepatitis and diseases with a social contagion like substance use. The proposed expansion of TasP¨provides an opportunity to implement the BC-CfE Targeted Disease Elimination¨ strategy with the aim to enhance the control of infectious and non-infectious contagious diseases, in Canada and across the globe. In doing so, this effort will substantially contribute to health care sustainability into the future.
The Global Fund is a partnership designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. As an international organization, The Global Fund mobilizes and invests more than US$4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in more than 100 countries. The Global Fund partnership raises and invests funding in three-year cycles known as Replenishments.
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 – nationally and internationally recognized as an innovative world leader in combating HIV/AIDS and related diseases. The made-in-BC Treatment as Prevention¨ strategy (TasP¨) pioneered by BC-CfE, and supported by UNAIDS since 2011, inspired the ambitious global target for HIV treatment- known as the 90-90-90 Target-to end AIDS as a pandemic by 2030. The BC-CfE is applying TasP¨ to therapeutic areas beyond HIV/AIDS, including viral hepatitis and substance use disorders, to promote a Targeted Disease Elimination¨ strategy as a means to contribute to health care sustainability. The BC-CfE works in close collaboration with key stakeholders, including government, health authorities, health care providers, academics, and the community to decrease the health burden of HIV/AIDS, HCV and related diseases across Canada and around the world.