The memory of what the world has lost must drive us forward

Stephen Lewis, Co-director of AIDS-Free World, recalls his years as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa from 2001-2006.

The Envoy years were revolving doors of death. I would sit down one evening in Kigali, or Lusaka, or Kampala, with several men and women from the national association of people living with AIDS, and we’d have an intense conversation about their struggle for survival, and I’d think to myself what a lovely and courageous group they were.

Then I’d return six months later for another meeting, and almost everyone was gone. I’ve never really come to terms with that awful rhythm of life and death. It haunts me still. Unlike others, of more optimistic mien, I just can’t get out of my mind the hundreds of thousands - probably millions - who died unnecessarily in the carnage of the pandemic.

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During the Canada Post strike announced September 25, 2025, the following measures will be undertaken to minimize service disruption to BC-CfE clients and providers.

  • The BC-CfE Laboratory has transitioned to private courier for delivery of outgoing reports and documents. Results required urgently can be faxed upon request. (Lab Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8775; FAX 604-806-9463)
  • The BC-CfE Drug Treatment Program (DTP) will fax outgoing forms and documents to the provider’s office. (DTP Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8515; FAX 604-806-9044)
  • St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy has transitioned to private courier for delivery of medications. We recommend requesting medication at least 2 weeks in advance in case of delivery delays, particularly to rural/remote parts of BC. (Contact Information: Phone 1-800-547-3622; FAX 604-806-8675)

During the Canada Post strike, we recommend that documents be faxed or couriered to our sites, versus utilization of regular mail service

The BC-CfE Laboratory is streamlining reporting processes for certain tests in order to simplify distribution and record-keeping, and to ensure completeness of results. Beginning September 2, 2025, results for the ‘Resistance Analysis of HIV-1 Protease and Reverse Transcriptase’ (Protease-RT) and ‘HIV-1 Integrase Resistance Genotype’ tests will be combined into a single ‘HIV-1 Resistance Genotype Report’.
For more details and example reports, please click on the button below