July 31, 2006

Information

Government of Canada's Domestic HIV/AIDS Role

Canada takes a collaborative approach in the fight against HIV/AIDS, working in partnership with all levels of government, non-governmental organizations, community groups, health professionals and researchers.

The Public Health Agency of Canada works with stakeholders and hundreds of individuals across Canada on an ongoing basis to support collective action on HIV/AIDS

The Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada highlights the federal government's domestic role, and builds on lessons learned from past federal HIV/AIDS strategies, and consultations with stakeholders, provinces and territories. By 2008-2009, HIV/AIDS domestic funding will increase from $42.2 million to $84.4 million annually.

The goals of the Federal Initiative are to:

• Prevent the acquisition and transmission of new infections;
• Slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life;
• Reduce the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS; and
• Contribute to the global effort to reduce the spread of HIV and mitigate the impact of the disease.

To achieve these goals, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Correctional Service Canada collaborate with other federal government departments, provincial and territorial governments, non-governmental organizations, researchers, health care professionals and people living with and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. There are five areas of federal action: program and policy interventions; knowledge development; communications and social marketing; coordination, planning, evaluation and reporting; and global engagement.

The Federal Initiative recognizes gay men as the group most affected by HIV/AIDS in Canada. However, the epidemic has also gained a foothold in other vulnerable populations, including Aboriginal people, inmates, people who inject drugs, at-risk youth and women, and people from countries where HIV is endemic.

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For more information, contact:

Alain Desroches
Media Relations
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 948-7970

Chris Williams
Media Relations
Health Canada
(613) 946-4250

Marie-France Poirier
Media Relations
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
(613) 941-4563

Suzanne Leclerc
Media Relations
Correctional Service Canada
(613) 943-5048