JUNE 2012
Sheep Days held at Huble Homestead recently B4
Big North FREE PRESS
Northerners urged to get tested for HIV/AIDS DELYNDA PILON newsroom@pgfreepress.com
The video flashes through scenes of people, some of whose faces are well-known in the city, discussing some quick facts and fallacies about HIV AIDS. It’s interesting, but when the scene changes and one young lady starts speaking, it becomes riveting, raw and honest. Brave enough to let out the pain she lives with because of the stigma attached to her disease, she tells everyone that just because she has the disease she is not garbage. The roomful of people gathered to celebrate the launch of the STOP HIV/AIDS education and awareness campaign in Prince George are quiet. The presenter admits to biting the inside of her cheek when she watches the frames slip by. Though she’s seen it a number of times, it can still bring tears. STOP in this campaign stands for Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention and is running from 2010 through to 2013 in B.C. It will focus on increasing HIV testing and early treatment for all ages groups. De Ly nd a PILON/ Fre e Pre s s It is estimated that about 25 per Vanessa West, executive director of Positive Living North, was one of the community partners who spoke during the cent of those with AIDS don’t know launch of the STOP HIV/AIDS campaign. it, and are responsible for 75 per many effective new treatments. “If you across the north,” he said. rounds this disease,” said Dr. Abu cent of new infections. are treated early you are less likely to This will be done in an effort to reach Hamour, an infectious disease specialist Dr. Ronald Chapman, chief medical pass the virus on and there is a greater people living from major centres to those in Prince George. “But we’d like to break health officer for Northern Health, said potential for your own life.” living in the smallest, most remote town. down barriers and talk openly about earlier the early detection of AIDS will Removing the stigma and normalizing “We know that HIV/AIDS is a difHIV and AIDS.” improve patient care. those with HIV is also a goal, he said. ficult subject for many people to talk Testing and treatment for the disease “Times have changed. Treatments “You will see our messages stretching about. We know that stigma still surwill be available throughout the North. have changed,” he said, adding there are
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