By paNOW Staff

HIV testing promoted in P.A. and across the province

Jun 27, 2018 | 12:00 PM

June 27 marks the second time HIV Testing Day has been recognized in Saskatchewan, and a Prince Albert Sexual Health Clinic is making it easy to learn your HIV status.

“Getting tested for HIV is important so people can receive timely diagnosis, treatment, and support, or confirm HIV negative status and promote actions to prevent HIV,” Saskatchewan Health Minister Jim Reiter said in a statement.

A number of leaders from the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority, the Prince Albert Grand Council, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and the Prince Albert Métis Women’s Association came together in Prince Albert earlier this month to get tested and encourage more participation in the testing programs.

Part of the reason testing is encouraged for everyone is to help end the stigmas around the sexually-transmitted virus.

“The stigmas that have been associated with HIV have made people not come forward to test,” said Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka, medical health officer with the Northern Intertribal Health Authority.

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“The ones who come forward to test, people see them as being labeled.”

In Prince Albert, testing is available at Access Place on 15th St. E. The public was encouraged to drop by between 1:30 and 3 p.m. to learn more about HIV and take the simple blood test. A spokesperson told paNOW the whole process takes only about 20 minutes, and plenty of educational materials are also available.

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