HIV in Canada

HIV in Canada

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) estimates that approximately 65,000 people were living with HIV infection in Canada at the end of 2008--a 14% increase from 2005. PHAC also estimates that in Canada, in 2008, there were from2,300 to 4,300 new HIV infections.

According to PHAC 2008 estimates, men who have sex with men continue to be the group most affected by HIV/AIDS in Canada. Estimates were classified according to the following exposure categories for new infections:

• 44% were men who have sex with men;
• 17% were people who use injection drugs;
• 3% were men who have sex with men and use injection drugs;
• 36% were heterosexuals.

At the end of 2008, women living with HIV accounted for approximately 22% of the national total. Aboriginal peoples account for a disproportionately high percentage of the individuals living with HIV infection in Canada. Although Aboriginal peoples represented only 3.8% of the Canadian population in the 2006 census, they accounted for approximately 7.4% of individuals living with HIV and for 12.5% of those who were newly infected.

Similarly, people from countries where HIV is endemic (mainly countries of sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean) also represent a disproportionate percentage of the total number of HIV infections in Canada. In 2008, individuals who originated from a country where HIV is endemic accounted for 16% of estimated new infections in Canada, an infection rate of almost 8.5 times higher than among other Canadians.

The Government of Canada's Role

The Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada is a key element of the Government of Canada's long-term, comprehensive approach to HIV/AIDS. The Federal Initiative provides funding for prevention and support programs reaching key populations, as well as research, surveillance, public awareness, and evaluation. Working in partnership with Health Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and Correctional Service of Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada serves as the focal point for federal expertise in HIV/AIDS.

The goals of the Federal Initiative are as follows:

• to prevent the acquisition and transmission of new infections;
• to slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life;
• to reduce the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS; and
• to contribute to the global effort to reduce the spread of HIV and mitigate the impact of the disease.

Canada also recognizes the importance of investing in the development of new HIV-prevention technologies. In February 2007, Prime Minister Harper announced a commitment to the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI), an effort funded by the Government of Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The CHVI will contribute to international efforts to develop a safe, effective, affordable, and globally accessible HIV vaccine.