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HIV/AIDS Communiqué - Volume 6 Number 1 - Winter 2007
Table of contents
- Events
- Research / Vaccines
- Funding
- Reports and Surveys
- General
Events
HIV Prevention Forum
The Public Health Agency of Canada, in partnership with the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID), held an HIV Prevention Forum in Ottawa on April 12-13, 2007.
The forum brought together federal government officials, domestic and international experts, provincial and territorial delegates, HIV/AIDS community organization representatives, public health practitioners, people living with HIV/AIDS, researchers, and other stakeholders. Through panel presentations and plenary discussions, participants discussed and identified strategies for sustaining HIV prevention efforts over the next decade to prevent the acquisition and transmission of new HIV infections.
This event provided an opportunity to present an overview of HIV prevention activities undertaken or supported by the Government of Canada under the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada. The federal government and the NCCID are committed to addressing HIV/AIDS by reducing domestic incidence and increasing awareness. With the ambitious targets set by the Federal Initiative and Leading Together: Canada Takes Action on HIV/AIDS (2005-2010), it is important to reflect on accomplishments to date and to identify future strategies for sustaining HIV prevention.
Participants highlighted best practice interventions and identified priorities and opportunities in prevention research, knowledge exchange, and promotion of best practices. Partnerships will be encouraged across jurisdictions and among public health providers/practitioners/policy makers, community-based service organizations, laboratories, researchers and their institutions, and other key stakeholders. Outcomes of the forum include an improved awareness of the roles and responsibilities of the partners involved in HIV prevention; increased understanding of the role of PHAC in sustaining and supporting prevention efforts; identified priorities and multi-stakeholder strategies for sustaining HIV prevention; and increased awareness of evidence-based prevention activities.
It is hoped that the forum will lead to innovative HIV prevention partnerships and strategies to strengthen the pan-Canadian response to HIV/AIDS.
For more information on the HIV Prevention Forum, please contact Jackie Arthur, by e-mail at jacqueline_arthur@phac-aspc.gc.ca.
Research / Vaccines
HIV Vaccine Announcement
The Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative – a collaboration between the Government of Canada and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – was announced at a joint press conference in Ottawa on February 20, 2007. The initiative will contribute to the global effort to develop a safe, effective, affordable, and globally accessible HIV vaccine. This collaboration builds on the Government of Canada’s long-term commitment to a comprehensive approach to address HIV/AIDS globally and domestically and to develop new HIV prevention technologies.
For more information, please consult the Prime Minister's website at http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1544 
.
Funding
Knowledge Exchange Fund update
The National HIV/AIDS Knowledge Exchange Fund Request for Proposals was released in September 2006. The goal of the fund is to strengthen the response of front-line organizations involved in the delivery of prevention, diagnosis, care, treatment and support to people living with and at risk of HIV/AIDS by incorporating an active and continuous exchange of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge. The fund replaces the HIV Information Services Initiative(HISI) Fund.
The Knowledge Exchange Fund was developed as part of the realignment of all national HIV/AIDS funding streams with the goals of the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada. Its development followed a review of knowledge exchange models, a survey of front line AIDS service providers, and a national consultation of HIV/AIDS NGOs, front line AIDS service organizations, health care providers and other government departments involved in the Federal Initiative.
The first stage of the solicitation process requested Letters of Intent from interested organizations. The responses were reviewed internally by Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) officials and externally by a review committee consisting of front-line AIDS workers from across Canada. Feedback was then provided to applicants, and full application proposals were received by February 12, 2007.
A full national review committee met in early March 2007 to review the proposals and make funding recommendations to PHAC. These recommendations are being considered, and a final funding decision is expected in early spring 2007.
For more information, please contact Jo-Anne Stead by e-mail, at Jo-Anne_Stead@phac-aspc.gc.ca .
Update – Specific Populations HIV/AIDS Initiatives Fund
The review and approval process of the proposals submitted under the Specific Populations HIV/AIDS Initiatives Fund is nearing completion. Organizations will be informed of the decisions once the process is completed.
The HIV/AIDS Policy, Coordination and Programs Division acknowledges the importance of the timing in the funding decision and its impact on the implementation of the projects, as well as on the planning cycle of organizations that have applied to this fund. We will work with each organization to facilitate the implementation of activities between the funding announcement and the project start date.
For more information, please visit
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/funding/rfp/rfp06/request0606-eng.php, or contact Amberine Sheikh at Amberine_Sheikh@phac-aspc.gc.ca.
Reports and Surveys
Population-Specific Status Reports
An important component of the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada is the development of responses to address the epidemic in Canada in collaboration with each of the populations most impacted by, or at risk of, HIV/AIDS.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has initiated the development of population-specific status reports that will include up-to-date information on the status of each population in relation to HIV/AIDS; a comprehensive overview of current HIV/AIDS research and responses; information on emerging issues/lived experiences; and gaps to inform next steps.
It is anticipated that these reports will become a valuable resource to individuals and groups involved in planning, policy and program development, research and resource allocation, including those working at the national, provincial, regional and local levels within a variety of sectors.
A working group has been struck and is assisting PHAC in the development of a status report for people from countries where HIV is endemic. This report is expected to be completed by summer 2007.
PHAC has also begun work on the development of status reports for gay men, Aboriginals, and women at risk by meeting with representatives from these populations to inform them about the reports’ intended purpose and to seek their guidance and input. Formal working groups will be established following these meetings with an objective of completing these reports in fiscal year 2007-2008.
A similar process for the development of the remaining status reports (people living with HIV/AIDS; people who use injection drugs; prison inmates; and youth at risk) will be initiated in the coming year.
For more information, please contact the following by telephone or by e-mail:
Geneviève Tremblay, Manager, Populations Section
genevieve_tremblay@phac-aspc. gc.ca
613.946.3637
Jacqueline Arthur regarding women at risk; injection drug users; and prison inmates at:
jacqueline_arthur@phac-aspc.gc.ca
613.957.7477
Michael R. Smith regarding gay men and people living with HIV/AIDS at:
michael_r_smith@phac-aspc.gc.ca
613.954.1008
Constant Mudekereza regarding Aboriginals and youth at risk at:
constant_ mudekereza@phac-aspc.gc.ca
613.952.3426
Alain Houde regarding people from countries where HIV is endemic at:
alain_houde@phac-aspc.gc.ca
613.954.0628
2006 Report on the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada
The Public Health Agency of Canada is working on the Federal Initiative’s 2006 annual report. The report will provide a snapshot of federally-supported HIV/AIDS programs across Canada. This report will also include a record of Federal Initiative expenditures on HIV/AIDS, and results achieved through this investment.
For more information, please contact Shannon Brunton at Shannon_Brunton@phac-aspc.gc.ca.
Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Survey 2006
The Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Survey 2006 - the first of its kind in Canada and a joint effort between the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) - obtained baseline data on the knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and behaviour of First Nations living on- and off-reserve, Métis, and Inuit regarding HIV/AIDS.
The survey borrowed heavily from the HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Tracking Survey 2006, but was adapted for Aboriginal audiences in consideration of cultural and linguistic differences.
The survey’s findings offer insight into comfort levels towards people living with HIV/AIDS, distancing levels (the extent to which HIV/AIDS is seen as a disease that happens to others), and stigma, discrimination, and knowledge levels. Results of this survey, like the HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Tracking Survey 2006, will help to inform a variety of initiatives, including PHAC’s Social Marketing Campaign on HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.
Our gratitude is expressed to the National Aboriginal Council on HIV/AIDS for its contributions to the survey's development and the review of the final report.
The survey’s final report is now available on-line at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/publication/por/2007/index-eng.php.
For more information on the Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Survey 2006, please contact Maxxine Rattner (PHAC) by telephone, at 613-957-7351 or by e-mail, at maxxine_rattner@phac-aspc.gc.ca or Kelly Peterson (FNIHB) by telephone, at 613-954-0661 or by e-mail, at kelly_peterson@hc-sc.gc.ca.
General
Leading Together Championing Committee
The Leading Together Championing Committee (LTCC) has been established and held its first meeting on February 27-28, 2007, in Ottawa. The LTCC is mandated to promote and champion the widespread use of Leading Together: Canada Takes Action on HIV/AIDS (2005-2010), a blueprint for Canada-wide action on HIV/AIDS. The current nine members come from across the country and represent various constituencies. The LTCC will meet at least twice a year and provide an annual update in time for World AIDS Day.
The LTCC will consist of at least 8 to 10 members in total, including two representatives from provincial/federal government. The current members of the LTCC are as follows: Sharon Baxter, Ken Clement, Terry Pigeon, Edoye Porbeni, Sean B. Rourke, Wangari Esther Tharao, Kim Thomas, Frank McGee (provincial government) Steven Smith (alternate for Frank McGee), and Nina Arron (federal government).
The February meeting focussed on finalizing the group’s terms of reference and workplanning. Further information will be forthcoming from the LTCC.
For more information, please contact Tanya Lary, at Tanya_Lary@phac-aspc.gc.ca .
Surveillance meeting update
The HIV/AIDS Surveillance Section of the Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division (SRAD) met with key stakeholders from across Canada in Quebec City on March 1-2, 2007. The meeting’s main objectives meeting were to review progress made since the last national meeting in June 2005 and provide an update on some of the current work in SRAD; to review and update the HIV and AIDS case definitions; to identify core and minimum data elements to facilitate HIV and AIDS surveillance at the national level; and to discuss updating the national HIV/AIDS case report form. Participants included federal and provincial/territorial public health officials involved in both the collection and analysis of HIV/AIDS data and in the development of HIV/AIDS surveillance policy. Other federal officials from PHAC, Health Canada, Correctional Service Canada, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada, also attended the meeting, as well as F/P/T AIDS Committee members and representatives from the HIV Unit of the Pan American Health Organization and the HIV/STI/VHC Unit of the Institut de veille sanitaire in France.
The meeting was productive resulting in a consensus on several key decisions. This included a decision to publish SRAD’s HIV/AIDS surveillance report annually as opposed to semi-annually. SRAD will continue to work with the meeting participants and other key stakeholders to follow up on these discussions.
For more information, please contact Jenni Vik at Jenni_Vik@phac-aspc.gc.ca .
