World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 is an opportunity to reflect on the state of HIV and AIDS both locally and beyond.
This year’s World AIDS Day theme is “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,” which aims to highlight how recent funding cuts towards global HIV/AIDS initiatives impact communities and individuals around the world.
In early 2025, the U.S. Government paused most foreign aid and terminated its funding agreement with UNAIDS. Because the U.S. had previously provided about two-thirds of international financing for HIV prevention in low- and middle-income countries, this action has placed key prevention services at serious risk — though not all of that funding has yet been confirmed as fully halted.
Jonille De Los Santos, healthy living manager of York Region, said that global funding cuts can strain local services – including those serving new immigrants – by increasing HIV incidences abroad, as well as disrupting drug supplies and surveillance.
“Together, through compassion and awareness, we can end stigma and move closer to ending AIDS in Canada and beyond,” she said.
HIV is a sexually transmitted infection that occurs when the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) reaches a person’s bloodstream. After a brief initial phase of flu-like symptoms, the virus continues to kill T-helper cells – a white blood cell type that is crucial to fight off infections – for several years until there are not enough cells to protect against most infections, resulting in AIDS.
The federal government reported on Dec. 31, 2022, that the number of new HIV cases dropped by around 25 per cent from 1,757 cases in 2019 to 1,325 cases in 2020. The report added that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a decreased demand for, and ability to provide, services related to sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections, including HIV testing. From 2020 to 2022, the number of new cases rose back to 1,833 new cases, akin to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.
De Los Santos said that HIV awareness is important for York Region because HIV is still a public health concern that comes with race, gender, income, and stigma-related barriers. Additionally, she said that a lack of information can not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes but also prevent people from seeking care.
PrEP is a daily oral medicine or long-term injection that people can take to prevent getting HIV. De Los Santos said that many studies and real-life experiences have proven that PrEP is highly effective at minimizing the risk of HIV infection.
“It’s important to have these conversations openly to boost awareness about HIV, testing and treatment options available and to reduce stigma,” she said.
York Region Sexual Health Clinics is partnered with GetaKit that offers free lab-based testing for sexually transmitted infections through an online assessment. This includes self-test HIV kits that one can use privately in their own home.
De Los Santos said that those concerned with global HIV/AIDS funding cuts can get involved with local organizations, share petitions and social media campaigns, and support policies that protect access to HIV services.
To learn more about World AIDS Day, head to https://worldaidsday.org.
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