Sask. HIV strategy may require local perspective

published on July 5, 2012 in The Leaderpost

The province's chief medical health officer says well funded public health programs work in reducing the spread of HIV.

That begs the question: Should Saskatchewan follow British Columbia's lead and set up safe injection sites?

British Columbia is the only Canadian jurisdiction where the rates of HIV and AIDS are declining. The decline is attributed to methadone programs, syringe exchanges, Vancouver's Insite supervised injection site and an ongoing heroin prescription trial.

"The other factor is that it is fairly aggressive treatment - not just for the individual, but to reduce transmission in the community," said Dr. Moira McKinnon. "They have an aim of getting every HIV-positive person on treatment and compliant with treatment."

She notes there are many differences between Saskatchewan and B.C.

The Saskatchewan epidemic is cocaine driven and intergenerational, she said.

"It's very much accepted by some certain families so it may not be that an Insite injecting place is appropriate for Saskatchewan or would work here, but we probably need, as time goes on, to have that discussion," McKinnon said.

A recent report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy maintains that HIV/ AIDs has spread because the war on drugs has not reduced drug supply and is driving the rapid spread of HIV among drug users and their sexual partners.

Read More

View the full article >>

BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

Search form

Sask. HIV strategy may require local perspective

Search form