Northern Health is one of two health districts which are piloting a STOP HIV program in the province.
“Over the last few years research has shown that by starting people on treatment for HIV earlier in the course of their infection that it can contribute to reducing the spread and reducing the chances of illness or death for those with HIV,” said the Northern Health Regional Director for Preventable Health, Kathy MacDonald.
With this in mind, the provincial government has focused on putting together this project. STOP, an acronym for Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention of HIV/AIDS, is looking at increasing access to testing for HIV so that people with HIV can be identified and started on treatment as soon as possible.
In the past, treatment used to start later in the disease process, depending on the levels of white blood cells in their blood tests.