Government of Canada supports community-based programs to address HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections

Winnipeg, MB, November 15, 2023 /CNW/ – Today, Health Minister Mark Holland announced during a visit to Nine Circles Community Health Center $14.5 million Fifteen projects are delivered through the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund (CAF) and the Harm Reduction Fund (HRF). This investment will support the work of community-based organizations in the Prairie region responding to HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI).

STBBI is preventable, treatable, and in many cases curable.However, these infections remain a significant public health problem Canada, especially among First Nations, 2SLGBTQ+ and other communities who deserve equity.Today’s funding includes more than $10.7 million Through CAF, it will support 10 community-based interventions to address HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBI.Nine Circles Community Health Center is receiving funding for its project Accelerating Our Response to HIV-STBBI Manitoba Through innovation and collective impact. The project aims to increase knowledge of effective evidence-based HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBI prevention measures; and strengthen the capacity of service providers to improve cultural safety and stigma-free testing, prevention, treatment and ongoing support.

This announcement also includes more than $3.7 million Through the HRF, the project will support five projects to help reduce HIV and hepatitis C among people who share injection and inhalation drug use equipment.One project receiving HRF funding is the “By Us, For Us” peer-led STBBI testing innovation southern manitoba. The project will improve access to effective STBBI prevention, detection, treatment and ongoing care and support for people who use drugs by facilitating peer-led community STBBI activities. These events will create a stigma-free, culturally safe environment for people who use drugs to access health care and social services.

The story continues

government Canada Committed to working with and supporting community organizations, Indigenous partners, provinces and territories, researchers, public health and health authorities to prevent new infections and support the elimination of HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBI as public health issues global goals.

quotation marks

“The contributions of community organizations like Nine Circles Community Health Center are vital to improving people’s health Canada and our ability to meet the global goal of ending STBBI as a public health problem by 2030. The funding announced today supports programs that will engage with people living with and at risk of HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBI to help communities meet their prevention, testing, treatment and support needs. “

The Honorable Mark Holland
ministry of health

“government Canada Committed to supporting community organizations to contribute to improving people’s health Canada, and to help key populations disproportionately affected by STBBI, such as drug users. Projects announced by the Harm Reduction Fund contribute to community-based efforts to reduce stigma against these populations, prevent new and reoccurring infections, and connect people to testing, prevention, treatment and care. ”

Her Excellency Yara Sacks
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Deputy Minister of Health

“Nine Circles is extremely grateful for the funding provided by the Community Action Fund. This funding allows us to bring together a wide range of partners around the world Manitoba Address the complex challenges associated with HIV-STBBI by supporting collaborative efforts that create collective impact. This support allows us to create innovative tools for education, assessment and action, including scaling up HIV self-testing and interventions to reduce stigma. “

Mike Payne
Executive Director of Jiuhuan Community Health Service Center

Quick facts

• In 2022, Govt. Canada invest $106.4 million Help with STBBI issues Canada.

• This funding includes $46.2 million Under the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS Canadaand $8.9 million Under the Hepatitis C Prevention, Support and Research Program.

• Through the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund, Public Health Agency Canada (PHAC) Investment $26.4 million Limited-time projects supported annually (up to 5 years) Canada Addresses HIV, hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted infections (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis).

• PHAC invests through Harm Reduction Fund $7 million Annual support for limited time projects (3 to 5 years) Canada This will help reduce HIV and hepatitis C infections among people who share injection and inhalation drug use equipment.

• exist August 12022, Govt. Canada Announce $17.9 million

  Improve access to testing in time-limited funding (2022-2023), including $8 million Provide support to community organizations to support their ability to distribute and promote HIV self-testing and connect people to care.This also includes $9.9 million Provided to the National Microbiology Laboratory to expand community testing in northern, remote and isolated communities, including $1.2 million The British Columbia Center for Disease Control and the British Columbia First Nations Health Authority build on previous community-based testing initiatives, including STBBI testing.

• Working hard to solve STBBI Canada Follow the guidance of the Pan-Canadian STBBI Action Framework and the Government of Canada’s Five-Year STBBI Action Plan (the Action Plan).

Related Products

Related Links

SOURCE: Department of Public Health Canada

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2023/15/c0803.html