2024-10-21 14:28:00
In Alberta, the number of recorded HIV cases increased by 73% in one year, from 293 in 2022 to 507 in 2023. According to health authorities, although they are not yet final, the figures for The current year follows the same trend as that of last year.
It is [une augmentation] significant. It’s the opposite direction we’re hoping for, says Dr. Caley Shukalek, a Calgary physician working in the prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Immigration among the factors
According to Dr. Shukalek, a number of factors are likely contributing to this trend, including “the arrival of more people in Canada.”
According to a report from the Ministry of Health, 54.8% of cases identified last year province-wide were contracted abroad, compared to 43% in 2022.
HIV can sometimes be discovered through tests carried out during the immigration process.
In particular, asylum seekers who arrive here, without having undergone testing before their arrival, end up being tested, and new infections are detected and treatment is then put in place, says Dr Shukalek.
Dr. Ameeta Singh, clinical professor in the division of infectious diseases at the University of Alberta, notes that some, among the large number of newcomers she sees in her Edmonton office, often have , already, an undetectable viral load.
Dr. Singh notes that with advances in medicine, HIV is treatable and is considered a manageable chronic illness.
Being diagnosed with HIV today no longer means that one must be excluded from anything, particularly immigration, she maintains.
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Call to raise public awareness
Front-line agencies are feeling the effects of the increase in HIV cases, says Finn St. Dennis, head of research and evaluation at the Queer and Trans Health Collective (QTHC), an advocacy organization. Edmonton which offers support services, including safe sex products and advice.
We have seen a large increase in demand for our services over the past year. Our team is doing its best to meet demand, but it exceeds our capacity.
Une citation de Finn St. Dennis, Queer and Trans Health Collective
Finn St. Dennis says he’s seeing new infections among young people in the queer and trans community, and worries awareness is waning among Albertans in general.
Finn Dennis believes that more detailed data collection on transmission rates among transgender people, lesbians and non-binary people, for example, would help front-line staff design effective programs.
Katie Ayres of SafeLink Alberta says the organization has targeted outreach programs to connect with people from countries or regions where HIV is endemic.
Sometimes in some communities, talking about sexual health, sexual activity, condom use, and HIV prevention is not culturally appropriate.
A quote from Katie Ayres, SafeLink Alberta
It is necessary, according to her, to broaden the scope of education and awareness raising beyond just the members of the population who are traditionally targeted.
Ms Ayres stresses that it is also important to target young people, as studies have shown a decline in condom use among this population group.
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Awareness raising should particularly target young people because they protect themselves less and less during sexual intercourse, according to a study. (Archive photo)
Photo : Getty Images / Nikolay Zaiarnyi
$7 million allocated to organizations
The Alberta government says that while numbers for this year are not yet final, the number of cases is expected to be similar to 2023.
The province also cites population growth as a factor.
A Department of Health spokesperson said $7 million is allocated annually to organizations for the prevention, testing and treatment of blood-borne and STIs, as well as other forms of support.
Other programs targeting syphilis are also in place.
With information from Jennifer Lee
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