Changing Lives One Person at a Time - HIV

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Changing Lives One Person at a Time

Sipiwe Mapfumo HIV Community Link

In the midst of a global pandemic, HIV is an epidemic. The Public Health Agency of Canada recently estimated that HIV infections have risen 31% between 2013 and 2018 and are increasing yearly. The histories, narratives, and stories of various communities of people living with and affected by HIV in Canada have socio-historical links that to this day affect lives. In Alberta alone, it is estimated that in 2020, 24% black men and 40% black women of new HIV cases with the same community represent approximately 26% of Canada’s new HIV diagnosis. In addition, approx. in 1 in 7 people living with HIV in Canada are identify as part of the African, Caribbean, and Black community.

Treatment is available to allow people living with HIV, long, healthy futures. However, fears, myths, and misunderstandings surrounding HIV transmission are still prevalent in our society and so service providers focus on educational awareness through workshops, support services, resources, consultation, and distributing correct information regarding transmission of HIV.

How can we change that?

African, Caribbean, and Black communities in Canada are unjustly affect-

Marilyn Chimbaira HIV Edmonton

ed by HIV. Two organizations in Alberta are seeking to address HIV stigma towards and within the ACB communities and to make positive changes through prevention, education, community dialogue, and programming. HIV Community Link (originally AIDS Calgary Awareness Association) and HIV Edmonton (originally AIDS Network of Edmonton) founded in 1983 and 1984 respectively, are harm reduction organizations dedicated to educating others, raising awareness, and working to support HIV prevention.

HIV Edmonton is a not-for-profit community organization that uses community connections, dialogue, conversation café series, and even craft workshops as tools to address issues surrounding HIV. Since the pandemic, focus has shifted to Zoom meetings and on-line presentations about the basics of HIV and prevention of further transmission within our communities. Online events inform participants about health and wellness.

HIV Community Link is a non-profit community organization that serves people living with or at risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections. By educating communities, helping people to better understand their diagnosis, and providing non-judgmental tools, information, and support, they offer programs and services to populations in Calgary and Southeastern Alberta. HIV Community Link addresses the stigma surrounding HIV and provide services through outreach programs, special events, education, and prevention activities. Drumbeat, an HIVCL program serving African, Black, and Caribbean communities in Calgary, focuses on addressing stigma and removing barriers to care for ACB community members impacted by HIV. Drumbeat offers informational material in several African languages, is evidence-based and culturally informed, and is designed to meet the needs of the communities they serve.

Both organizations recognize the need to work collectively to bridge the informational gap, raise awareness of risks associated with HIV, and provide supports for those living with and affected by HIV. One participant shared that “my loved one died of AIDS years ago but this is the first time I was able to talk about this.” Perhaps we need more conversations, more human connections, and regardless of cultural differences, demographics, or education, more changes need to be made. HIV Edmonton and HIV Community Link in Calgary are doing just that by changing one life at a time.