By Bryan Eneas

‘There is still a long way to go,’ Health Canada on HIV/AIDS in Sask. First Nations

Aug 26, 2016 | 7:19 PM

First Nation communities in Saskatchewan have an HIV and AIDS rate of 33.2 per 100,000 people, almost six times higher than the national average.

In 2014, the Ministry of Health in Saskatchewan released a report stating there was a marked decline in people with HIV who identify as Aboriginal.

While the numbers may show a decline, Dr. Ibrahim Khan, the regional medical health officer for the Saskatchewan region said there are many more communities that need to be tested before those numbers can be confirmed.

“The number we have currently reflects the area where we have testing. There are certainly more communities that we would like to have testing, and we do believe that currently we have a long way to go to provide testing to each First Nations community in Saskatchewan,” Khan said. “We are still expecting the number may go up if we provide testing in an expanded area.”

The numbers may rise but in the meantime First Nations around the province are taking more action than ever against HIV and AIDS. Khan said six of the province’s 48 point of care sites are run by First Nations communities or Tribal Councils, and that number is going to keep growing.

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“There are a number of communities who are interested in offering testing and we are working with those sites. In the coming months there will be more sites available, particularly in the First Nations jurisdictions,” Khan said. “More and more communities are coming on board, more and more leadership is taking action against HIV and those sort of things.”

Having point of care and testing sites on First Nations is important because it gives access to testing, better care, and better case management, within the on reserve population in Saskatchewan, according to Khan.

“A lot of good things are happening in terms of HIV collaborations, in terms of collaborations with the provincial authorities, the regional authorities, the doctors, the labs, and other care providers,” Khan said.

Health Canada has many long standing programs on reserves where HIV is circulating, according to Khan. He said education and awareness are often pillars of these programs.

According to Khan, an expert staff is available and frequently used by First Nations communities to raise awareness and educate First Nations about HIV and AIDS.

“They have a very consistent alliance work with the professionals, elders and traditional people on the ground in each community. They work together to provide that education and awareness,” Khan said. “There is still a long way to go, we feel there is still more to uncover in terms of HIV in the First Nations system.”

The 2015 report on HIV and AIDS in Saskatchewan put out by the Ministry of Health will be available in the first week of December, according to staff from the province.  

Bryan.eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas