December 1st marks the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day, a wrap up to AIDS Awareness Week.
This year’s theme is “Know your status.”
The AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area (ACNBA) explained that it is an opportunity for people to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for those living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have lost their battle.
Guests attending a gathering at the White Water Gallery heard from the ACNBA that HIV has not gone away and that there is still a need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice, improve health outcomes and increase access to testing.
“Significant progress has been made in the HIV response over the past 30 years, including advancements in treatment, resulting in longer, healthier lives for HIV positive individuals,” said Kathleen Jodouin HIV Education and MSM Outreach Coordinator with the AIDS Committee.
“However, with 14 per cent of HIV positive Canadians unaware of their status, we still have work to do in ensuring all Canadians who are positive, are linked to quality care and prevention services. Once people are tested and linked to care, and start treatment, they can live a long healthy life with HIV.”
World AIDS Day also marks the beginning of National Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week.
”It is important to raise awareness of, and challenge stigma and discrimination that creates barriers to culturally safer, HIV testing and prevention services. National Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week is an opportunity for Indigenous people, policymakers, and communities, to share lessons learned, build community readiness and culturally safer HIV responses.”
The local AIDS committee executive director, Dr. Stacy Mayhall, encourages people to understand the importance of getting tested, and the importance of getting on medication.
“Know that HIV is still out there, that you need to go get tested if you are doing things that put you at risk in terms of sexual transmission, and needle transmission. Those are the main ones. It is a blood disease. So we’re trying to encourage everyone to know what their status is so they can take steps to protect themselves and other people.”
The joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS estimates that 36.9 million people are living with HIV worldwide, almost the entire population of Canada.
Following the reading of a proclamation by the mayor, and brief speeches by Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli, and the office of Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota, hundreds of red scarves, hand knit and crocheted by volunteers, were tied to posts up and down Main Street as part of the sixth annual Red Scarf project.
The hope is that people would take and wear one, to show their collective support for those living with HIV.
“This is a project that visually represents the red ribbon in our community, but also engages people to become more aware of HIV here in our community, and what they can do to help eliminate stigma and to connect people to testing,” said Jodouin.
Marion Thorne was excited to see the scarves, vowing to proudly wear one.
“And so will my son. I think it is fantastic. If I would have known about this, I would have crocheted some.”
This year’s scarves are tagged with the message “Get tested. Know your status.”
