News release

Nova Scotia Recognizes World AIDS Day

Health and Wellness

At Province House today, December 1, Nova Scotia joins organizations across the planet marking World AIDS Day by flying a white flag with a red ribbon.

This year, to mark the pivotal role communities have had in shaping HIV/AIDS response, the global theme is “Let communities lead.”

“Those infected with HIV/AIDS still face discrimination and stigma even though great strides have been made with treatment,” said Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “We’ll continue to work and help remove inequity barriers that get in the way of proper prevention, diagnosis and treatment in Nova Scotia.”

Today also marks the start of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week in Canada, a time for reflection on what the national and global response to HIV has achieved and the work still to be done.

Both these events honour people living with HIV/AIDS and those who have lost their lives to AIDS here in Nova Scotia and around the world.

Quick Facts:

  • in Nova Scotia, 27 cases of AIDS were reported in 2022
  • the province averages about 21 cases per year based on tracking over the past five years; the number of cases ranged from 13 to 27 per year
  • free HIV testing is available through primary care providers, including family doctors and nurse practitioners; walk-in clinics; and VirtualCareNS
  • Nova Scotians also have free access to HIV self-test kits through the Aids Coalition of Nova Scotia with test pickup and mailout options
  • the Public Health Agency of Canada, which monitors the HIV epidemic in Canada, estimated at the end of 2020 there were 62,790 Canadians living with HIV

Additional Resources:

Support and information about HIV testing and other sexually transmitted infections is available through the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia: https://acns.ns.ca/

Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week, December 1–7: https://caan.ca/events-and-workshops/indigenous-aids-awareness-week/

Information on World AIDS Day – Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange website: https://www.catie.ca/world-aids-day#what

Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS: https://www.unaids.org/en

Information on HIV Transmission – Share the U=U message (Government of Canada): https://www.canada.ca/en/services/health/campaigns/hiv-aids.html

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