A total of 56 area residents were tested for HIV infection during another clinic held at the New Beginnings outreach centre in Kamsack on August 23.
“Fifty-six were tested for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), and other sexually transmitted infections, but we had to turn away another 20,” said Darlene Bryant, the health director at Cote First Nation. “There was no more time left.”
Bryant, who organized the clinic working with Sunrise Health Region and Health Canada, was on site, working with Dr. Ibrahim Khan of Regina, the regional medical health officer who is involved in First Nations and Inuit health programs, at Health Canada and five nurses who conducted the tests.
The clinics are being held in Kamsack in response to the fact that the southern part of Saskatchewan, where Kamsack is located, has a “very high” rate of HIV infection, Khan said. While the provincial HIV rate is 14.5 cases 100,000 persons for 2016, the southern area has 117 cases per 100,000 for First Nations on reserves.
The high rate is attributable to a high rate of injection drug use and the sharing of needles, Khan explained, adding that many don’t seek care because of their risky lifestyles.
Cote First Nation Leadership said open to HIV awareness
Of course, unprotected sex doubles the risk of spreading the infection, he said.
Often access to care, testing and primary care, is difficult for First Nations people, but at Cote the leadership is open to HIV awareness, hence this clinic to which Cote, Keeseekoose, The Key and Kamsack residents were welcome to attend, Khan said. An objective is to bring culturally safe HIV care close to people and help make people feel comfortable.
“We want people to know that really good testing is available at Cote Keeseekoose and Kamsack and the cost is covered. If any transportation is required it is covered, he said, explaining that transportation can often be a struggle.
“We’re working to meet the needs of the clients and to promote awareness education on the reserve, in Kamsack and throughout Sunrise Health District.”
Toward that end, Dr. Stu Skinner of Regina, an infectious disease doctor, is offering clinics, one of which will be at New Beginnings on September 13, for persons who are HIV positive, those who are at high risk and those who have not yet been tested.
Skinner visits 30 First Nation communities and hosts HIV clinics on reserves, he said.
Khan explained that in Kamsack last week, the nurses are prepared to test anyone who came and that a rapid test is available to which a preliminary result can be made known within an hour were made.
Testing is all done in confidence and confirmation of results are known from a week to 10 days. If positive, the patient is referred to a doctor for follow up.
Unfortunately there is still a stigma attached to an HIV diagnosis that is not seen with a diagnosis of, for example, diabetes. Although with HIV if there is no follow up following a positive diagnosis, AIDS will develop which is an explosive invasion of the body’s immune system, with treatment, the viral loads are suppressed, the disease is controlled and one can live as long as anyone else.
HIV is no longer the death sentence that it once was, Bryant said. It is preventable and treatable if not yet curable. With treatment, which might involve taking of one or two tablets a day, the virus “goes to sleep.”
Discussing Health Canada funding in 2017-18, Khan said that $3.2 million is being spent on HIV programs for First Nations communities for nurses, education and awareness. In Saskatchewan there are currently 23 HIV testing sites for 16 harm reduction programs and for 13 specialized community health outreach workers.
“We are spreading the word that these programs are available and we try to provide the service close to the people.
Khan commended the administration at Cote First Nation for not only being willing to have the testing done but also is striving to curb drug addiction which can promote the spread of HIV. He applauded the New Beginnings outreach centre as a good resource to the area, said that the stigma of HIV infection is diminishing and as a result more people are willing to be tested.
At the outreach centre, staff members help with underlying issues that might lead to risky behavours, he said. It provides advocacy and works with other organizations to get people into care, schools, treatment or detox as needed and to help normalize lifestyles.
To stop HIV and other such diseases, communities must strengthen addiction programs and provide access to needle exchanges, he said. “We all have a role to play.”
There is so much support available which increases the comfort and trust in care, he said, adding that he has heard many heart-breaking stories of suffering people being judged by others. “We need to stop that.”
The HIV clinic in Kamsack is important because knowing one’s HIV status can save an individual’s life and protect their loved ones and early detection will help protect their sexual health, said Sean Best of Winnipeg, the senior communications advisor at the communications and public affairs branch of Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada.
HIV is treatable and preventable, and like most other sexually transmitted infections can be treated and cured, Khan said. Health Canada works with the Sunrise Health Authority, Public Health Agency of Canada, local primary care doctors, an infectious disease specialist and First Nations partners of the area to ensure access to HIV testing and care is available to all Kamsack area residents.
The primary risk factor for HIV transmission in many Saskatchewan communities is intravenous drug use, he said. For that reason, a needle distribution program is available at the New Beginnings Outreach Centre to reduce the transmission of HIV. Programs are available to people living on Cote and Keeseekoose reserves.
Health Canada’s non-insured health benefits program covers the cost of medication that support HIV/AIDS care as well as medication for hepatitis-C and other sexually transmitted infections for all registered First Nations members in Saskatchewan on and off reserve.
Canada strongly supports the UNAIDS 90-90-90 treatment targets, which aim to ensure that 90 per cent of HIV positive people will know their status, that 90 per cent of people who know their status receive treatment, and that 90 per cent of those on treatment have suppressed viral loads, Khan said. Health Canada funding supports communities in the development of culturally specific outreach programs, testing and case management support, as well as prevention strategies and training opportunities to strengthen their response to HIV and AIDS.
