HIV/AIDS is on the rise in Canada

HIV/AIDS is on the rise in Canada, particularly in the Aboriginal community. What is HIV/AIDS and what is it doing to Natives on Reserves?

HIV/AIDS, a disease ushered into the North American mainstream during the 1980’s through the homosexual population, is now seen by many as a rampant epidemic that afflicts those in developing countries.

In Canada, HIV/AIDS is on the rise amongst young women, drug users, homosexual men and the Aboriginal community. An often invisible disease, HIV/AIDS is often overlooked in the Canadian health care system as one that afflicts intravenous drug users, sex workers, and the gay community. Right now, HIV/AIDS is not considered an immediate health problem to the Canadian population. Despite the rise in infection cases across demographics, one in four Canadians infected with HIV/AIDS is unaware of their status