Prince Albert agencies hold HIV awareness event

“We really want people to know their status. Whether you’re 15 or you’re 90, we should all know our status,” she said.

Thanks to some grants approvals, bags containing food and hygiene were distributed to people in need. (Image Credit: Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Martin added another goal of the event was community outreach and simply meeting people.

“It’s so important to put faces out there. During COVID we were all behind telephones and had no idea who to connect to. We became disengaged.”

Martin confirmed there is still a stigma attached to HIV, and she finds it is more common among adults. She said they teach youth to become the sexual-health experts in their families and share the information.

Jordan Merasty is an HIV peer support worker with the Métis Women’s Association and was diagnosed HIV-positive 15 years ago, when he was 16. He said it was the result of having unprotected sex.

“I was shunned from my family and some of my friends, but now they’ve learned about STIs, they are more understanding about my sickness and my illness.”

As part of his work, Merasty said he helps people understand what HIV is and how it will affect their lives. Among youth, he said, he encourages them to practice safe sex, but also to remain abstinent until they know they are ready.

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Prince Albert agencies hold HIV awareness event

What's Trending