HIV surge a setback for Saskatchewan First Nations – The Star Phoenix

Jun 05, 2022

Saskatchewan First Nations were internationally recognized for containing and treating HIV. Then the pandemic delivered a massive setback.

COVID-19 has dealt a painful setback to Saskatchewan First Nations in a years-long battle with HIV.

Before the pandemic, Dr. Ibrahim Khan said First Nations in the province were recognized internationally for expanding testing, prevention and treatment programs to combat sky-high rates of HIV — more than twice the provincial average, which itself is the highest in the country.

“We had achieved remarkable success with HIV in Saskatchewan before the pandemic,” said Khan, the medical health officer for Indigenous Services Canada in the province.

But he and a First Nations health official say the pandemic disrupted services, diverted resources and cut people off from their social supports. Renewed testing efforts are just now revealing the extent of HIV’s spread.

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