Province Marks HIV/AIDS Awareness Week and World AIDS Day

The Government of Nova Scotia is honouring people who are living with, and those who have died from, HIV/AIDS by marking HIV/AIDS Awareness Week and World AIDS Day.

To coincide with awareness week, the Nova Scotia Advisory Commission on AIDS has released its report, Review of Nova Scotia's Strategy on HIV/AIDS: Looking Back and Moving Forward. The review of the 2003 strategy was done by the commission and a consulting firm.

The report calls for a process to renew the provincial response to HIV/AIDS and to review the approach to HIV screening and testing.

"We have reached an exciting phase of renewal of the provincial HIV/AIDS strategy," said Michelle Proctor-Simms, commission director. "It's an opportunity to continue working with partners to address overlapping issues related to HIV/AIDS and other sexually-transmitted and blood-borne infections and chronic conditions."

There are about 800 Nova Scotians who have tested positive for HIV since testing began in 1983.

"Reducing the impact of HIV/AIDS and other chronic disease is a priority of the government," said Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine. "We are committed to working with the commission on the report's recommendations to help advance the quality of life for Nova Scotians living with HIV/AIDS."

A red-ribbon flag is also flying at Province House to commemorate awareness week and World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

This year marks the 26th annual World AIDS Day and the theme is Getting to Zero. The campaign focuses on the goals of zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.

The Nova Scotia Advisory Commission on AIDS was established in 1988 to implement recommendations of the Nova Scotia Task Force on AIDS. The commission advises government on HIV/AIDS issues and its impact on Nova Scotia, and co-ordinates the implementation of the provincial HIV/AIDS strategy.

For a full list of events being held across the province during HIV/AIDS Awareness Week and to get a copy of the report, visit www.novascotia.ca/AIDS .