Leading International Expert to Speak about new Approach to Preventing HIV/AIDS in BC
Posted June 7, 2011 - 1:56pm
Leading International HIV/AIDS expert, Dr. Julio Montaner, will be in Nanaimo talking about an important new approach to HIV, “Treatment as Prevention,” on January 24, 2011, from 12-2pm in Nanaimo.
While an outright cure, or preventive vaccine for HIV/AIDS, remains elusive, remarkable advances in HIV treatment have been achieved over the past two decades here in B.C. Most significant is the development of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
Yet, HAART uptake today is suboptimal, even in Canada where access to the drugs and necessary medical services is free. This is particularly apparent among hard to reach individuals who have additional challenges related to drug dependency, mental illness, limited education and unstable housing. Particularly affected are aboriginal individuals who have greater risk of HIV infection and greater AIDS mortality than non-aboriginals in Canada.
The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) has shown that actively expanding HAART coverage to all those in medical need reduces the risk of transmission and will be highly cost effective as a strategy to control HIV/AIDS related morbidity and mortality among those who are HIV infected. The BC-CfE’s proposal of using “Treatment as Prevention” has gained the support of the international community including WHO, UNAIDS, IAS.
“We’re pleased to be hosting Dr. Montaner and to bring important information on HIV/AIDS prevention and care to Nanaimo,” said Dana Becker, Manager of the AVI Health Centre.
This approach, supported by the Province of British Columbia, has been formalized the as Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention of HIV/AIDS (STOP HIV/AIDS) pilot project in Prince George and Vancouver’s Downtown East Side.
Dr. Montaner is Director of the BC-CfE, Professor of Medicine and Chair in AIDS Research at the University of British Columbia, and Past President of the International AIDS Society (IAS).
This talk is being hosted by the AVI Health Centre, a not-for-profit health care center that provides medical treatment, methadone treatment, and counselling to people struggling with addiction to opiates. As well, AVI Health Centre provides education, treatment and support for clients living with hepatitis C and/or HIV/AIDS, STI testing, PAP, wound care, immunizations, and other services.
Resources:
Visit the STOP HIV/AIDS website at: http://www.cfenet.ubc.ca/our-work/programs/stop-hiv-aids
Visit the AIDS Vancouver Island website at: http://www.avi.org