KAMSACK – HIV and hepatitis C information resource website CATIE.ca has launched a new initiative to distribute free HIV self-test kits across the country. This initiative allows individuals across Canada to easily access and order self-test kits from the comfort of their own home, marking an important step toward encouraging regular testing and improving health outcomes.
“Knowing your HIV status is the first step to getting treatment, which can save your life and stop the spread,” stresses CATIE Executive Director Jody Jollimore. “Whether you test positive or Negative, the results will give you peace of mind and guide you in making the right choices to take care of your health.”
Canada-approved HIV self-test kits are highly accurate, making them a reliable tool for individuals to understand their status. Research shows that self-testing can expand testing services to communities that face barriers to accessing traditional health facilities. Especially at a time when health services are under strain, the convenience of testing at home provides a practical solution for those who want to know their HIV status.
Positive Impact does distribute HIV self-testing kits, said Candice Nelson, Kansac chapter manager of the Society for Involvement of Good Neighbors (SIGN) Positive Impact. Funding for the program comes from the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).
Nelson added, “I normally use their (SHA) stock, but there were supply issues last summer, so I received a small amount of stock from CATIE to distribute at HIV testing day events in the area.”
HIV can cause serious health risks if left untreated. Fortunately, prompt diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve outcomes. People living with HIV who receive effective treatment are also unable to transmit the virus to their sexual partners, underscoring the importance of early detection.
“One in 10 HIV-positive Canadians still don’t know they have the virus,” said Jolimore. “We need to make testing as easy and convenient as possible, and self-testing is part of that effort. .”
CATIE’s self-test program is part of an $8 million investment by the Government of Canada to procure and distribute HIV self-test kits across the country. The project aims to distribute these kits to individuals and communities most affected by HIV to achieve the goal of eliminating HIV as a public health threat by 2030.