News Release
2004-24
May 12, 2004
For immediate release
Government of Canada announces new funding to fight HIV/AIDS
OTTAWA - Health Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced that funding
for the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS (CSHA) will double over the next five years to $84.4
million annually. In the first year, funding will be targeted to support community-based
organizations working with populations most at risk of infection.
"The Government of Canada remains committed to fighting HIV/AIDS," said Minister Pettigrew. "This
funding will build on the success of the CSHA by strengthening communities to fight the
diseases and the stigma and discrimination that fuels their spread."
Partnerships with provinces, territories and stakeholders and the international community
will continue to be essential to the success of this approach.
"This first-year investment is a key and critical priority because of the growing numbers
of people living with HIV/AIDS, and the essential role community-based organizations play
in prevention," said Dr. Carolyn Bennett, Minister of State (Public Health).
Since 1998, the CSHA has provided stable, ongoing funding of $42.2 million annually to
address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Canada. With this announcement, this annual amount will
increase to $84.4 million by 2008-2009.
The Strategy's goals are to:
- prevent the spread of HIV infection in Canada;
- find a cure;
- find and provide effective vaccines, drugs and therapies;
- ensure care, treatment and support for Canadians living with HIV/AIDS, and for families,
friends, and caregivers;
- minimize the adverse impact of HIV/AIDS on individuals and communities; and,
- minimize the impact of social and economic factors that increase individual and collective
risk of HIV infection.
There are now more than 42 million people living with HIV/AIDS around the world, and over
three million people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2002. It is estimated that 56,000
people are currently infected in Canada. About 4,000 people became infected with HIV in
2002, despite prevention efforts.
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Media Inquiries:
Aggie Adamczyk
Health Canada
(613) 954-4807
Sébastien Théberge/Adèle Blanchard
Office of Minister Pettigrew
Minister of Health
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Minister Responsible for Official Languages
(613) 957-0200
Suzanne Cowan
Office of the Minister of State (Public Health)
(613) 941-8081
Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991
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