This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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A new Saskatoon Health Region report has found that less number of people are contracting HIV in Saskatoon compared to the previous figures, even though the infection rate is still twice the national average. According to the online report entitled Better Health For All, it was found that more people are getting tested and less of those in high-risk populations are testing positive.
The news release issued by AIDS Saskatoon explained that the region indicates there was a 50 per cent increase in HIV testing in 2013 as compared to 2011. Executive Director of AIDS Saskatoon, Danielle Genest, pointed out that the primary reason for the declining transmission rates is early detection. It was explained that since there is improved access to testing, more people are getting tested at early stages and receive timely treatment, thus preventing the spread of HIV. Having said that, Genest stressed that it’s still not enough since “more testing, more prevention work, more education is always needed. I think until we see numbers comparable to the rest of Canada and below, more support is always a good thing.”
The health region highlighted several factors for higher HIV rates in Saskatoon, including inadequate housing, ethnicity and gender. Genest stated that “trying to directly impact the rates of HIV in our communities really have to be supported in a collaborative model that take into account things like safe, affordable housing and mental health care.” Additionally, Genest alleged that less people are contracting the virus also because of better collaboration and communication between organizations.
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