As previously mentioned, Canada’s HIV/AIDS community welfare organisations are getting angry about the levels of public health cuts directed at prevention and support activities in their country. I also mentioned a new initiative entitled Increase AIDS Funding Canada, so here’s a peek at their activities.

Now, surely it would stand to reason for any health economist that preventative funding is important in the context of HIV/AIDS through simply doing a cost/benefit analysis. In return for spending money on condoms and health promotion initiatives, the state is spared the consequent expense of paying for staff time, imported medication needs, medical equipment wear and replacement, hospital bed occupancy and so on. Each year, about four thousand Canadians are exposed to HIV/AIDS. As with many other western societies, HIV/AIDS exposure is rising, so this is no time to be complacent.

At a time when barebacking, crystal meth use and other factors threaten to lead to a spate of new infections amongst gay men, the Canadian federal Tories are proposing to cut about seven million Canadian dollars from direct funding and grants to community service and welfare organisation engaged in frontline resistance to the epidemic.

The Ontario AIDS Network is engaged in co-ordinating responses to HIV/AIDS funding cutbacks in Canada. Their stark but simple message is that Cutting Funding Means Cutting Lives. If you are an expatriate Canadian who wants to assist the efforts of the IAF, see their URL and contact details directly below.

Recommended:

http://www.increaseAIDSfunding.ca

Email:

information@ontarioaidsnetwork.on.ca