Hastings and Prince Edward Counties/December 1, 2022
Today is World AIDS Day and the beginning of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week, an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), to show support for people currently living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. This year’s United Nations World AIDS Day theme is Equalize, reminding us that HIV thrives where inequities persist. A recent report issued by the United Nations explains that rates of HIV continue to rise in many parts of the world, and taking action to reduce inequalities can help reduce the incidence of AIDS worldwide.
On this World AIDS Day, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is reinforcing the importance of taking action to reduce your risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). All sexually active individuals are encouraged to recognize their risk of transmitting or being exposed to HIV and other STIs and take steps to protect themselves and others.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, an estimated 62,790 people were living with HIV in Canada at the end of 2020 and an estimated 1,520 new HIV infections occurred in Canada during 2020.
HIV is spread through exposure to blood and bodily fluids, through unprotected sexual contact, as well as sharing needles, through pregnancy and birth, and needlestick injury. Currently, there is no effective cure for HIV, and preventing infection is the only way to stop the spread of the virus. However, if infection does occur, HIV can be effectively controlled with early identification and proper medical care. Since HIV weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection, knowing your status and seeking medical care can help support your body’s immune system, and prevent passing the virus on to others.
Anyone having unprotected sex can be infected with HIV, and not know it. Individuals infected with HIV may not look or feel sick for years, but can still pass the virus on to other people. If you are having condomless sex, you have a responsibility to know your status – to protect your own health and the health of others.
“At an individual level, the best way to protect yourself and your partners from HIV and STIs is to know your status and to wear a condom or use another form of barrier protection,” says Dr. Ethan Toumishey, Medical Officer of Health and CEO at HPEPH. “At the community level, we will continue to work together to take action against inequalities and reduce the spread of HIV.”
To get tested, visit your health care provider or a walk-in clinic. To learn more about your risk of HIV, visit Canada.ca or hpePublicHealth.ca/hiv-aids-facts. To learn more about HIV and STI testing options, including steps to protect yourself and others, visit hpePublicHealth.ca or call the HPEPH Sexual Health Team at 613-966-5500, ext. 418.
Additional support and services are available through Trellis HIV and Community Care (Formerly HARS) for local individuals living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. For more information, visit trellishiv.ca or call 613-545-3698.
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Media contacts
Emily Tubbs, Communications Specialist
etubbs@hpeph.ca
Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
hyland.maureen@hpeph.ca
About Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is a public health agency that serves the counties of Hastings and Prince Edward from four local offices. HPEPH is situated and provides services on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee people. We monitor the health of our local population, deliver programs and services within our communities, and help develop healthy public policies. We provide information and support in many areas to help improve the health and well-being of our residents. Together with our communities, we help people become as healthy as they can be. For more information, please visit hpePublicHealth.ca. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
