Saskatchewan: Increase in cases

The number of cases of HIV infections in Saskatchewan, a province of Canada, reached 237 in 2021, which is more than double the national average, explains Radio Canada. According to the latest health data, the number of HIV infections in the province jumped 30% between 2020 and 2021. The number of HIV cases in this territory remains the highest in the country. According to the Ministry of Health, “sexual contact contributed to 68% of HIV cases”. Sharing needles is another key factor in this increase. Criticism is growing in the face of the resurgence of HIV cases in this province, in particular because the local authorities are not funding the fight to match the challenges. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Saskatchewan has seen a dramatic drop in the number of tests. There were 78,858 tests performed in 2021, a slight increase from 71,681 in 2020, but still down from 93,832 in 2019. As of January 2022, the provincial government allows pharmacies and community organizations of the province to provide HIV test kits to the public in an effort to facilitate early diagnosis.