February 4, 2010
Project Will Improve Care for Prince George HIV Patients

PRINCE GEORGE – Northern British Columbia residents will soon receive improved care from a pilot program to seek and treat undiagnosed or untreated HIV/AIDS.

The four-year, $48-million will expand access to HIV/AIDS medications among hard-to-reach populations. By reaching and engaging more British Columbians living with HIV/AIDS in Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy (HAART), not only will better care be provided but the treatment will also significantly reduce or eliminate the virus’ ability to spread.

“This is an important step in our fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in Northern British Columbia.” says Prince George – Valemount MLA Shirley Bond.  “It also ensures that we help people get access to the treatment they need, so they will live longer, healthier and safer lives.”

“Reaching out and offering treatment to vulnerable populations also means we can connect people to other health and social supports,” says Prince George – Mackenzie MLA Pat Bell. “This program is one more way that our government is working ensure that vulnerable people get the help they need.”

Northern Health, Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care will lead the regional implementation of the pilot with support from the Provincial Health Services Authority, including the BC Centre for Disease Control, under the leadership of the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.

For British Columbians who know they have HIV/AIDS and are connected to the health-care system, accessing HAART is relatively straightforward and can have extremely positive outcomes. However, there is a large segment of the at-risk population who are not connected to the health system, and Seek and Treat aims to go out, diagnose, support and provide treatment to those who are medically eligible where possible.

“Seek and Treat expands the reach of HIV treatment and will result in decreased progression to AIDS among HIV- infected individuals and fewer new HIV infections among those at risk,” said Dr. Julio Montaner, director of the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and the original developer of this innovative concept.

Seek and Treat will also open up the opportunity to respond to regional increases in AIDS infection and mortality. This will target HIV care in the Downtown Eastside, the North and among Aboriginal populations as recommended in the provincial health officer’s report, Pathways to Health and Healing. Engagement in the pilot will be strictly voluntary, using standard practices including participants’ informed consent.

Operating and drug cost for the pilot are provided by the Province. The operating cost for the pilot is $1.66 million in 2009-10, $4.9 million in 2010-11, $16.5 million in 2011-12 and $16.5 million in 2012/13. Drug costs are $2 million in 2010-11, $3.4 million in 2011-12 and $3.4 million 2012-13.

For more info on Shirley and Pat’s work for people in Prince George-Valemount and Prince George – Mackenzie, visit www.shirleybondmla.bc.ca and www.patbellmla.bc.ca

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