Ottawa Invests $32 Million to Fight Alarming Increase in Sexually Transmitted Infections
The Canadian government has just announced an investment of $32 million over five-years towards researching sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI).
The announcement came after a resurgence of sexually transmitted infections in Canada. Chlamydia increased by 49%, gonorrhea by 81%, syphilis by an alarming 178% and the number of people newly diagnosed with HIV has risen over the past four years.
Despite having the knowledge and tools to prevent, treat and, in many cases, cure STBBI, 44 per cent of people in Canada living with hepatitis C are unaware that they are infected.
The announcement made at the STI & HIV 2019 World Congress will focus on efforts to prevent, diagnose, and address barriers to treatment and care.
The priorities of the Action Plan include:
- supporting community innovation efforts which can also reach the undiagnosed and providing linkages to testing, treatment and care;
- leveraging existing knowledge and targeting future research to help improve access to testing and support; and
- reducing stigma and discrimination to promote inclusion and respect.
The Minister of Health, Ginette Petitpas Taylor also announced funding for several initiatives that support the priorities of the Action Plan:
- $7.7 million for 29 projects over two years through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Harm Reduction Fund;
- $5 million over five years for the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory’s newly established Innovative Diagnostics Program; and
- $32.4 million to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for research grants on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and other STBBI.