This week is Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week.
Indigenous Canadians are 2.7 times more likely to get HIV compared to non-indigenous Canadians, but Alisha McKen, Outreach Coordinator with the Northern Indigenous Health Alliance says awareness efforts have made the numbers more encouraging than before.
“There’s never a limit to how much information we should be getting out there and encouraging people to access testing. When we talk about biological risk factors and social deterrents to help, I think it’s really important to look at that when we’re looking at that other communities and we’re looking at out indigenous communities, just the barriers to treatment.”
McKen says breaking the stigma around HIV and AIDS is one way people can raise more awareness for this disease.
“Be open with people. Talk about HIV and AIDS. Spread awareness and I think most importantly get tested. I encourage everyone to get tested. If you have sexual partners, even just one, getting tested can make all of the difference when it comes to HIV.”
McKen adds that HIV is a “very manageable” condition if it’s caught in time and treated.
– Kyle Moore, Trending 55 Newsroom
