News Release

1995-68
October 18, 1995

Project will enhance the skills of social workers who work with persons living with HIV/AIDS

OTTAWA - Health Minister Diane Marleau announced funding to the Canadian Association of Social Workers under the National AIDS Strategy to design and produce the sixth module in the series Comprehensive Care Guide for the Care of Persons with HIV Disease.

The Psychosocial Module will focus on counselling standards for the care and support of persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. The project will provide social workers and others with the necessary tools to deal more effectively with issues related to HIV/AIDS. It will also develop new education and support systems, and strengthen existing ones for social workers involved in HIV/AIDS. In addition, the project will inform and sensitize social workers not directly involved in this area and will allow work to be done with other disciplines to enhance activities in the HIV/AIDS field. Health Canada is contributing $396,700 to the Canadian Association of Social Workers for this project.

Other modules in the series include:

• Module 1: Adults - Men, Women, Adolescents - Concise and comprehensive clinical guide for primary care physicians to assist in HIV/AIDS disease.
• Module 2: Infants, Children, Youth - Clinical guide for primary care physicians to assist in HIV/AIDS disease.
• Module 3: Nursing Care - To enhance knowledge, skills and competency of all members of the nursing discipline, to improve the quality of care for persons living with HIV/AIDS and to address the needs of nurses in a wide range of working environments.
• Module 4: Palliative Care - Designed for caregiving professionals of all disciplines who seek to enhance their skill in providing palliative care for those living with HIV/AIDS.
• Module 5: Managing Your Health - A guide for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Madame Marleau noted that this project supports the National AIDS Strategy's goal to treat, care for, and support people infected with HIV/AIDS, as well as their families, friends and caregivers. The other goals of the Strategy are:

• to stop the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus, and;
• to search for effective vaccines, drugs and therapies.

Funding for this program was provided for in the February 1995 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. This program is an example of how this government is prioritizing its spending dollars so that it can better serve Canadians by making efficient use of their tax dollars.

Information:
Monette Haché
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803