HIV/AIDS Communiqué - Volume 3 Number 1 - Spring 2004

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Understanding the HIV Epidemic among Aboriginal Peoples: A Collaboration with the Community for the Community

The National Aboriginal Council on HIV/AIDS (NACHA) is a body that provides advice to Health Canada on HIV/AIDS issues relevant to Aboriginal peoples. The council has endorsed an Epidemiology and Surveillance Ad Hoc Committee that includes a representative from each of the four caucuses (First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Community) that comprise NACHA along with two technical and content experts from the Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division (SRAD), Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control. Members of the ad hoc committee have recently partnered to produce the first "Epi Note" devoted to explaining the current state of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among Canada's Aboriginal peoples.

Epi Updates are published annually by SRAD and aim to summarize the current status of HIV/AIDS in Canada. Key findings from national HIV/AIDS surveillance data, estimates of incident and prevalent infections, and relevant research are highlighted. Since 2002, Epi Notes have been produced on selected topics. Epi Notes communicate the same key messages contained in Epi Updates, but use plain language and a more visual approach in order to increase access to information on epidemiology and surveillance for a broader range of community stakeholders.

"HIV/AIDS surveillance among Aboriginal Peoples: Communities at a Glance" represents a first attempt to communicate the extent of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among Aboriginal peoples directly with the community. This Epi Note has been created through a collaborative process and has resulted in mutual capacity building between the federal government and Aboriginal communities. This Epi Note is scheduled for release at an Aboriginal Summit being held in April 16-17 in Vancouver, BC. A companion Epi Update will be targeted for dissemination at the 13th Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR) conference to be held May 13-16 in Montreal, QC.

Highlights of "HIV/AIDS surveillance among Aboriginal Peoples: Communities at a Glance" and the companion Epi Update include the following:

• Aboriginal peoples are over-represented in the HIV epidemic in Canada
• Aboriginal peoples make up a growing percentage of positive HIV test reports and reported AIDS cases
• Injecting drug use continues to be a key method of transmission in the Aboriginal community
• HIV/AIDS has a significant impact on Aboriginal women
• Aboriginal people are being infected with HIV at younger age compared to non-Aboriginal people.

Communication of these key messages will allow communities to develop evidence-based policies and programs in an attempt to curb their HIV epidemic. A product of collaboration with the community for the community, this Epi Note aims to better serve Canada's Aboriginal peoples.

National HIV/AIDS Capacity-Building Fund (2004-2006)

The National HIV/AIDS Capacity Building Fund supports national initiatives that develop or sustain the skills and knowledge of organizations working in areas related to HIV/AIDS in order to strengthen their ability to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Canada.

The Request for Proposals for the National HIV/AIDS Capacity Building Fund was released in early February and the deadline for submitting proposal applications is April 13, 2004. This Fund supports a wide range of projects with varying funding needs up to $150,000 per fiscal year, per project, for a maximum of two years.

For a list of projects that were funded for 2003-2004, follow this link.

For more information about this fund, contact kathy_rice@hc-sc.gc.ca.

National HIV/AIDS Demonstration Fund (2004-2008)

The purpose of this newly-created fund is to contribute to the HIV/AIDS evidence base by supporting the development, implementation and rigorous evaluation of innovative initiatives to prevent HIV transmission/acquisition and/or increase access to HIV/AIDS care, treatment and support. A key focus of the fund is to support knowledge dissemination and uptake activities to ensure that the lessons learned from demonstration projects are utilized by communities across Canada.

The National HIV/AIDS Demonstration Fund builds on the Best Practice Models for the Integration of HIV Prevention, Care, Treatment and Support Fund which expired in March 2004. The goal of the Best Practices fund was to increase the availability of best practice models of integrated initiatives that reduce HIV transmission and support those living with HIV/AIDS to maintain/improve their health. For a summary of the projects funded under the Best Practice fund.

The Request for Proposals for the National HIV/AIDS Demonstration Fund is anticipated to be released in April 2004.

For more information about this fund, contact lori-ann smith@hc-sc.gc.ca.

Non-Reserve First Nations, Inuit and Métis Communities HIV/AIDS Project Fund (2004-2006)

The Non-Reserve First Nations, Inuit and Métis Communities HIV/AIDS Project Fund provides funding for time-limited projects to enhance the capacity of Aboriginal communities to address HIV/AIDS, encourage sustainability and partnerships, and strive to make HIV/AIDS a part of the work being done by existing Aboriginal services/agencies.

Health Canada received 39 proposals in response to the Request for Proposals (RFP) issued in June of 2003 for this fund. Health Canada expects to be able to release the results of the proposal review process for this RFP early in the new fiscal year.

As well, as a result of the low number of proposals received from organizations in the Prairie Region (Saskatchewan and Manitoba) in response to the original RFP issued in June, Health Canada released a targeted RFP from this fund in November of 2003 which was limited to organizations from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In response to this request, Health Canada received 11 proposals from organizations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Health Canada expects to be able to release the results of the proposal review process for this targeted RFP in late summer of 2004.

For more information on this fund, please contact Shane Rhodes at Shane_Rhodes@hc-sc.gc.ca.

HIV/AIDS Information Services Initiative (HISI) (2004-2005)

HISI supports national services whereby high quality HIV/AIDS information is identified, made meaningful, and available. HISI contributes to informed decision making by Persons with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) and those at risk of infection. Improving the health of PHAs and those at risk is also achieved by ensuring that the professional and non-professional caregivers, and community-based organizations receive the most current and reliable HIV/AIDS information.

The following organizations have recieved funding through the HISI fund for 2004-2005:

• Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) www.catie.ca
• Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre (CHIC), Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) www.clearinghouse.cpha.ca

For more information about the HISI fund, contact jo-anne_stead@hc-sc.gc.ca.

National Non-Governmental Organizations Operational Fund (2004-2005)

The purpose of the National NGO Operational Fund RFP is to support, enhance and sustain an effective response to HIV/AIDS in Canada. This funding program aims to strengthen community involvement and to provide leadership in the Pan-Canadian response.

The following organizations have recieved funding through the NGO fund for 2004-2005:

• Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) www.caan.ca
• Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) www.cdnaids.ca
• Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network www.aidslaw.ca
• Canadian Treatment Action Council (CTAC) www.ctac.ca
• Canadian Working Group on HIV and Rehabilitation (CWGHR) www.hivandrehab.ca
• Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD) www.icad-cisd.com

For more information about this fund, contact jacqueline_arthur@hc-sc.gc.ca.

Legal, Ethical, Human Rights Fund (2004-2006)

The Legal, Ethical, Human Rights Fund aims to support research, analysis, education and advocacy that focus in particular on the legal, ethical and human rights dimensions of Canada's response to HIV/AIDS, with a view to strengthening the overall social justice framework that guides the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS.

For an update on the status of this fund, follow this link.

For more information about this fund, contact alain_houde@hc-sc.gc.ca.

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