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H IV / AIDS among Aboriginal people in Canada, is a serious health issue with an ever increasing need for action and strategic planning. As infection rates continue to rise, more and more Aboriginal people, their families and communities are faced with the many and complex challenges that go with this disease. Although new medications are helping people live longer - there remains no cure. Aboriginal Leaders are called upon to speak publicly about this serious health issue. There is an urgency that requires political support, so that HIV/AIDS among Aboriginal people is properly addressed. Further examples of how Aboriginal Leaders can support this cause, is found at the beginning of the nine strategic areas, which could include council resolutions ensuring respect for individual human rights, lobbying for increased funding, etc. Access to adequate care, treatment and support can be a huge task when many Aboriginal people live below the poverty line: some are incarcerated, while others yet are dealing with issues that complicate prevention methods, such as injection drug use or the Residential School Legacy. Northern communities also face sub-standard health with little access to healthcare because of their isolation. As well, different health care coverage exists within Aboriginal populations depending on the status of individuals including residency and system involvement. From what is known through epidemiological evidence, between 1996-1999 both cumulative (91%) and new (19%) HIV infections continue to be quite high. Although infection rates vary among Inuit, Métis, and First Nations people, there is an over-representation for Aboriginal people in terms of HIV/AIDS, who make up approximately 4.4% of the Canadian population, yet are seeing HIV/AIDS figures continue to rise. There are wide gaps in the data, and more research with the full involvement of Aboriginal people, is needed to accurately reveal how this disease is impacting Inuit, Métis, and First Nations people. This strategy will offer a vision for Inuit, Métis and First Nations (status or non-status, on or off-reserve) people to respond to HIV/AIDS. It will outline and describe (1) key issues and nine strategic areas which can be taken to ensure that a range of programs and services are in place to meet the needs of Aboriginal PeoplelLiving with and affected by HIV/AIDS. The following nine strategic areas were selected after researching all Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal HIV/AIDS strategies, some mainstream HIV/AIDS strategies in Canada, and the National Australian HIV/AIDS Strategy. Common ground made its way into this document, as each strategy reviewed essentially were stating the same issues, just in different language and formats.
These nine key strategic areas are:
- Coordination and Technical Support
- Community Development, Capacity Building and Training
- Prevention and Education
- Sustainability, Partnerships and Collaboration
- Legal, Ethical, and Human Rights Issues
- Engaging Aboriginal Groups with Specific Needs
- Supporting Broad-based Harm Reduction Approaches
- Holistic Care, Treatment and Support
- Research and Evaluation
The title was chosen to reflect the need to create stronger ties, at any level. By doing so, HIV/AIDS work will not operate in isolation of other health and social issues. Whether it is creating a Community Wellness Team, a Regional Network, or bringing together groups on a national level - the potential exists to strengthen the response to HIV/AIDS among Aboriginal communities. The Aboriginal Strategy on HIV/AIDS in Canada (ASHAC) is not about competing with regional and local efforts - it is more about offering support and national coordination that can strengthen ties and strengthen Aboriginal communities. By doing so, it will identify and support measures which can take Aboriginal people that much closer to meeting and overcoming the many challenges related to HIV/AIDS. In some parts of Canada, Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategies are in existence. The ASHAC will build upon these regional strengths to support and encourage other regions to develop strategies, create and maintain effective networks, and where needed, assist in the development of frameworks, action plans, protocols and other tools. Much of the early advocacy and prevention efforts around HIV/AIDS started in urban areas. However, there have also been good examples from on-reserve and isolated populations. One example was the establishment of the Atlantic First Nations AIDS Task Force (now Healing our Nations), which mobilized from a regional perspective. Another is the Canadian Inuit HIV/AIDS Network, which has actively engaged its members to raise the profile of HIV/AIDS among Inuit. Numerous other resources have been developed in other regions, for First Nations on and off-reserve, as well as with Inuit and Métis rural HIV/AIDS response teams exist in some regions. It is with these in mind that the ASHAC will seek to provide broad strokes that will bring together current efforts and resources. This Strategy is not about prescribing a vision. It is about building common ground that can enhance, guide, support and complement work in all regions so that Aboriginal people can continue to find innovative ways of taking control of a disease that has taken far too many lives. Aboriginal people are not a special interest group, and have been impacted differently by HIV/AIDS, resulting in varied responses based on a number of reasons. The last section will offer glimpses into issues and factors that may be affecting a diverse listing of groups, such as injection drug users, women, men, etc. There is also an appendix D, which is the Consultation process used which reached 173 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people across the country.
This document will use the term "Aboriginal", which is meant to include Inuit, Métis and First Nations (On or Off-reserve, Status or Non-Status) people.
Read the Report
"An Aboriginal Strategy on Hiv / Aids"
click on the above link to read the report
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