Canada’s Minister of Health to attend 22nd International AIDS Conference in the Netherlands

From: Public Health Agency of Canada

July 17, 2018 – Ottawa, ON – Public Health Agency of Canada

HIV and AIDS continue to be major global public health issues, with nearly 37 million people living with HIV at the end of 2016 and approximately 2 million new infections each year. The Government of Canada is committed to working with international partners towards the global goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, will attend the 22nd International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam, the Netherlands from July 23-26, 2018. This year’s conference theme, “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges,” highlights rights-based approaches to more effectively reach key populations affected by HIV and AIDS.

While in Amsterdam, Minister Petitpas Taylor will meet with key stakeholders and international leaders to advance the global HIV response. The conference also provides an opportunity to showcase Canadian expertise and innovation, and learn from those who are dedicated to addressing HIV and AIDS.

Today, the Minister of Health also released an update on Canada’s efforts to reach the UNAIDS 90-90-90 treatment targets. That is, that 90% of all people living with HIV know their status, 90% of those diagnosed receive antiretroviral treatment and 90% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression. Achieving these targets will help to eliminate AIDS by 2030. As of 2016, it is estimated that more than 63,000 Canadians living with HIV, 86% were diagnosed, 81% of those diagnosed were on treatment, and 91% of those on treatment had suppressed viral loads.

Quotes

“We have made significant progress in addressing HIV and AIDS in the past three decades; however, there is still more work to be done. AIDS 2018 is an important forum where we can build on our achievements and explore new ways of preventing new infections and ensuring that individuals living with HIV and AIDS receive the ongoing care, treatment, and support they need.”

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health
Quick facts

• The Government of Canada supports community-based interventions to strengthen prevention and access to testing and treatment services, undertakes HIV surveillance, provides screening and testing guidance to health professionals, and invests in research. It also remains committed to working collaboratively with Indigenous national and regional leaders, partners and communities to improve health outcomes for Indigenous Peoples. The Government of Canada also provides prevention and health services to persons incarcerated in federal institutions.
• At the end of 2016, an estimated 63,110 people were living with HIV in Canada. Of these people, an estimated 1 in 7 were unaware of their status. An estimated 2,165 new HIV infections occurred in Canada in 2016.
• The Pan-Canadian Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections (STBBI) Framework for Action was released on June 29, 2018 by Canada’s Health Ministers. It aims to address STBBI in Canada by providing a foundation to reduce stigma and discrimination and other fundamental barriers to HIV prevention, testing and treatment in Canada.

Associated links

• Summary: Estimates of HIV incidence, prevalence and Canada’s progress on meeting the 90-90-90 HIV targets, 2016
• Reducing the Health Impact of Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections (STBBI) in Canada by 2030: A Pan-Canadian STBBI Framework for Action
• AIDS 2018 – 22nd International AIDS Conference | Amsterdam, the Netherlands
• World Health Organization HIV/AIDS Key Facts

Contacts

Thierry Bélair
Office of Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health
613-957-0200

Media Relations
Public Health Agency of Canada
613-957-2983
hc.media.sc@canada.ca

Public Inquiries
613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709

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