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December 1, 2007
- World AIDS Day (1 Dec.)
- National Safe Driving Week
(1-7 Dec.)
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 Dec.)
- International Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women (6 Dec.)
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November 2007
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CPR Awareness Month
Diabetes Month
National Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Osteoporosis Month
COPD Awareness Month
National Addictions Awareness Week
National Child Day
National Home Fire Safety Week
AIDS Awareness Week
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November 2007
You can save a life
Learning CPR is key to saving the life of someone who is in cardiac arrest. Most cardiac arrests happen at home, so that someone is likely going to be a person you know.
People of all ages are at risk. Cardiac arrest occurs when someone stops breathing and has no heartbeat. Causes of cardiac arrest include heart attack, stroke, drowning, electrocution, suffocation, drug overdose and physical trauma.
CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Don’t let the words scare you off from learning the technique. CPR can be learned easily through short courses offered by training organizations across the country, including St. John Ambulance, Canadian Red Cross, Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Lifesaving Society.
Related resources
- What is cardiac arrest?
-
Defines cardiac arrest and lists various causes for the condition. Stresses the importance of learning CPR in order to be able to respond appropriately during a cardiac emergency situation.
Source: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC)
From: Heart disease
- CPR and survival: you are the strongest link
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Emphasizes the importance of members of the public being trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Explains the need for defibrillation and describes the introduction and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in community settings. Prepared by the Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke Affiliate for the CHN.
Source: Canadian Health Network (CHN)
From: Partner feature of the month: archives
- What is CPR?
-
Defines cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and cardiac arrest. Discusses the importance of training in CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Source: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC)
From: Heart disease
- CPR training
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Offers CPR course and course instructor information through provincial links.
Source: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC)
From: Heart disease
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November 2007
More than two million Canadians have diabetes, and the numbers are growing steadily.
Are you at risk?
Approximately 10% of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. However, the number of people with type 2 diabetes is increasing dramatically. It is important to know what can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes so that you can take the steps to delay or prevent it.
You are at risk if you:
- are age 40 or over.
- have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes.
- are a member of a high-risk group (aboriginal, Hispanic, asian, south asian or African descent).
- have a health complication that is associated with diabetes, like heart disease.
- gave birth to a baby that weighed over 4 kg (9 lbs) at birth.
- had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy).
- have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG).
- have high blood pressure.
- have high cholesterol or other fats in blood.
- are overweight (especially if weight is carried around the middle)
- have been diagnosed with any of the following conditions:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Acanthosis nigricans (darkened patches of skin)
- Schizophrenia
If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, you should be tested at least every three years. Left untreated or improperly managed, diabetes can result in a variety of serious complications, including heart disease, kidney disease, eye disease, problems with erection (impotence) and nerve damage.
Diabetes in Canada
During Diabetes Month 2007, the Canadian Diabetes Association wants Canadians to get serious about preventing type 2 diabetes. To delay or prevent diabetes:
- Eat healthy
- Be active regularly
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Don’t smoke
- Reduce your stress
For information on type 2 diabetes in children, see this month’s feature article, Type 2 diabetes—why too many kids are at risk.
Related resources
- Prevent type 2 diabetes? Yes, you can.
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Presents risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes. Briefly explores recent research involving changes to diet and exercise patterns among people diagnosed with prediabetes. Offers tips on healthy meal planning and simple ways to increase physical activity levels. Prepared by the Canadian Diabetes Association.
Source: Canadian Health Network (CHN)
From: Partner feature of the month: archives
- Prediabetes: a chance to change the future
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Describes the dangers associated with elevated blood glucose levels and the tests used to diagnose someone with type 2 diabetes. Suggests that healthy living can help lower elevated blood glucose levels and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Source: Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA)
From: About diabetes
- Diabetes
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Describes the three types of diabetes, symptoms, risk factors, prevalence, and methods used for risk reduction. Introduces the federal government's strategies for preventing type 2 diabetes and all diabetes-related complications.
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
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November 2007
Smoking causes lung cancer
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women.
The main cause of lung cancer is smoking. Most people who develop lung cancer are long-term heavy smokers – the more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the higher your risk. But no amount of tobacco is safe. People who live with or work closely with a smoker are also at increased risk from exposure to second-hand smoke.
Other factors that appear to increase the risk of lung cancer are:
- Working with materials such as asbestos, arsenic, nickel and petroleum products, especially if you are a smoker.
- Exposure to radon gas.
Other workplace exposures and air pollutants are being studied. Some people develop lung cancer without any of these risk factors.
Quit smoking
Quit now and reduce the risk of developing cancer. In general, the longer you don't smoke the more you lower your risk.
- Within 10 years of quitting, the overall risk of an ex-smoker dying from lung cancer is cut in half.
- After 10 years, the overall risk of an ex-smoker developing cancer approaches that of a non-smoker.
Related resources
- Canadian Lung Association
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Dedicated to improving the lung health of Canadians through research, prevention, and education. With a focus on the prevention and control of lung diseases such as asthma, COPD, tuberculosis, and influenza. The Association also offers help in the area of smoking prevention and cessation, and air quality.
Source: Canadian Lung Association
- Quit smoking guides: One Step at a Time
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Presents the One Step at a Time self-help program,
which offers advice and health information about
quitting smoking. Includes a guide for those who
don't want to quit, for those who want to quit and
for those who want to help someone quit.
Source: Canadian Cancer Society (CCS)
From: Quit smoking
- The real cost
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Provides information on the amount of money that can be saved by not smoking. Calculates the real cost of smoking by using a Flash tool in a new browser window or using an HTML or text version.
Source: Health Canada
- What is lung cancer?
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Explains what lung cancer is and outlines risk factors, symptoms, diagnostic tests, staging, and treatments.
Source: Canadian Cancer Society (CCS)
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November 2007
Beat the break!
November is Osteoporosis Month and Osteoporosis Canada is letting Canadians know that they can beat the break.
Osteoporosis affects more than 1.4 million Canadians, including one in four women and at least one in eight men over the age of 50. Its symptoms are low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue which increases the risk of breaking bones. It can drastically change people's lives, resulting in loss of independence, low self-esteem, and reduced or lost mobility.
Build strong, young bones
Building strong bones in childhood and young adulthood is your best defense against osteoporosis. As children and teenagers, we build the bone that lasts us throughout our life. However, maintaining bone health as you age is also a key part of fighting osteoporosis.
Here are a few of the simple steps you can take to reduce your risk:
- Get adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D.
Osteoporosis Canada recommends that adults over 50 have a daily calcium intake of 1500 mg and a daily vitamin D intake of 800 mg.
- Be physically active.
Resistance training and weight-bearing exercises such as walking or dancing help build bone mass and reduce the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures.
- Limit your alcohol and caffeine consumption.
Excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption decreases bone mineral density.
For more information, visit the Osteoporosis Canada website at www.osteoporosis.ca.
Related resources
- What can I do to reduce my risk of osteoporosis?
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Suggests lifestyle choices which can help in reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Provides information on the recommended daily requirements of nutrients needed for healthy bones. Includes a list of resources for consumers and health intermediaries. Prepared by the Healthy Eating Affiliate for the CHN.
Source: Canadian Health Network (CHN)
From: FAQs: healthy eating
- 60 second osteoporosis risk quiz
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Offers an online 60-second osteoporosis risk quiz. The quiz is based on major risk factors for the disease, which are strong predictors of bone loss.
Source: Osteoporosis Canada
- Osteoporosis health centre
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Provides general information on osteoporosis including a medical description, diagnosis, prevention, treatment options, current research, FAQs, and a glossary.
Source: womenshealthmatters.ca at Women's College Hospital
- Bone health
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Provides an overview of bone health. Offers information on osteoporosis prevention and treatment for women at various life stages (adolescence, premenopause, midlife, and menopause).
Source: Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research
- Calcium for your bones
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Explains the importance of calcium and its role in preventing osteoporosis. Provides the daily recommended intake of calcium for different ages. Suggests good food sources of calcium and discusses calcium supplements. Offers tips for improving calcium absorption.
Source: Saskatchewan Health
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November 2007
Get tested — don't wait!
This year, more than 10,000 Canadians will die from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). About 700,000 Canadians have been diagnosed with COPD. Yet thousands more may be living with the disease but don't know they have it. Do you know if you're at risk?
COPD (which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis) damages the airways and makes it hard to breathe. People usually notice COPD symptoms when they're in their 40s, 50s or 60s. Often people think the COPD symptoms—feeling short of breath, wheezing or coughing—are a normal part of getting older. They're not.
Smoking cigarettes causes about 90% of COPD cases. If you smoke or if you smoked in the past, you could be at risk for COPD. The sooner COPD is diagnosed, the easier it is to manage. That's why it's important to catch symptoms early.
Are you a smoker or a former smoker? Take the test!
Take this quick test to see if you're at risk for COPD:
1. Do you cough regularly?
2. Do you cough up phlegm regularly?
3. Do even simple chores make you short of breath?
4. Do you wheeze when you exert yourself, or at night?
5. Do you get frequent colds that persist longer than those of other people you know?
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If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should speak with your doctor about taking a simple breathing test (called spirometry). This easy test measures the flow of air into and out of your lungs.
If your doctor can't give you a spirometry test, ask for a referral to someone who can.
Get tested—don't wait. To visit the faces of COPD, visit The Lung Association.
Related resources
- What is COPD and can it be prevented?
-
Explains what chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is and how it affects a person's breathing. Indicates the usual causes, stresses prevention, and outlines treatment. Briefly discusses the method of diagnosis. Created by the CHN Affiliate for Respiratory Diseases.
Source: Canadian Health Network (CHN)
From: FAQs: respiratory diseases
- Thinking of stopping smoking? What you need to know to help you quit … for good
-
Discusses the two main factors that make people keep smoking. Outlines the reasons for stopping smoking and suggests a variety of strategies for learning to live without smoking. Includes links to related resources on quitting smoking. Prepared for the Canadian Health Network by the Substance Use/Addictions Affiliate.
Source: Canadian Health Network (CHN)
From: Partner feature of the month: archives
- What is COPD?
-
Explains that chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) is a lung disease, usually made up of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Discusses what COPD can do to the lungs. Explains what the causes are and how it progresses.
Source: Canadian Lung Association
From: COPD
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18-24 November 2007
The third week of November is National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) in Canada. The goal of NAAW is to provide information and to promote a variety of activities in order to generate awareness about addictions issues. The organization responsible for NAAW is the Nechi Training, Research and Health Promotions Institute, an Aboriginal educational and research centre located in St. Albert, Alberta.
Building a healthy community
For 2007, the special theme of NAAW is: It takes a whole community to raise a child.
A community with addictions is an unstable environment—and a stable environment is so important to healthy child development. The idea is to help address addictions within communities in order to give children the best start possible, and this is a theme that resonates particularly with Aboriginal communities in Canada.
Suggested community activities for NAAW include:
- holding a sober dance
- honouring outstanding community members
- having an all-ages fun feast.
For more information on awareness resources and activities, visit the NAAW Resources page.
Related resources
- How can alcohol and other drug problems be prevented?
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Outlines the economic and psychosocial determinants which enable a person to cope with stress without the aid of alcohol or drugs. Includes references. Prepared for the CHN by the Substance Use / Addictions Affiliate.
Source: Canadian Health Network (CHN)
From: FAQs: substance use/addictions
- National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program
-
Provides information about NNADAP, a program designed so First Nation and Inuit communities can develop self-run community-based substance abuse programs. Outlines the three key areas in the program framework. Includes a directory of treatment centres
Source: Health Canada
- Tips for working with youth in community development projects
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Develops initiatives to address needs of youth who live in high risk conditions. Addresses issues affecting youth-at-risk and how to get communities working on forming adult/youth partnerships to identify and address local problems.
Source: Health Canada
From: Alcohol & drug prevention publications
- Helping your community help people with an alcohol/drug problem
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Suggests actions that individuals and communities can take to improve treatment services for those with an alcohol or drug problem.
Source: Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Health and Community Services
From: Addictions services
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20 November 2007
National Child Day marks the date of the adoption by the United Nations of the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child.
More countries have adopted the Convention than any other international human rights treaty.
In 1993, the Government of Canada proclaimed that each year on November 20, we would celebrate a national day of the child in order to promote awareness in Canada of children's rights.
The right of the child to be active—theme for 2007
The theme was chosen to encourage physical activity among children and inform parents, caregivers and educators that physical activity is essential to children's health and well-being. This theme also reflects Canada's commitments under Article 24 of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, which recognizes children's right to be healthy and enjoy the highest attainable standard of health.
Starting children off with a healthy, active lifestyle, promotes health, better social development and increased self-confidence to pursue their goals for the future. The theme The Right to be Active promotes physical activity among children as well and shows parents, caregivers and educators that physical activity is essential to children's health and well-being.
Celebrate National Child Day
There are many ways to mark the day with special activities for kids, parents/caregivers and educators.
For more information, visit the National Child Day website.
Related resources
- National Child Day - November 20: 'I have the right to be active!!'
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Explains the importance of National Child Day and provides resources on child's right to be active. Offers links related to National Child Day.
Source: Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF)
- Canada's report card on physical activity for children & youth – 2007
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Includes the findings that teen girls become less active as they get older, children and youth spend more time in front of a screen than being physically active, and decrease in physical activity corresponds with increasing reports of anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Gives a grade of D and offers recommendations for improvement.
Source: Active Healthy Kids Canada
- Canada's physical activity guide to healthy active living
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Outlines the benefits of physical activity and recommends the amount and type of physical activity needed to build endurance, flexibility, and strength. Provides links to separate guides for adults, older adults, children, and youth. Includes order information and support materials as well as contact details for more information.
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
From: Physical activity unit
- Do as I do
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Provides hints for parents on joining-in, encouraging and supporting their children's participation in physical activity from infancy to school-age. Suggests playing games is a natural, healthy, and enjoyable way for children to be active. Offers a structured approach to teaching children how to play these games through family recreational outings.
Source: Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI)
From: Tips for Being Active
- Move more every day
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Explains why children should be physically active every day. Provides tips and ideas for getting started and being active as a family.
Source: City of Ottawa
- Pause to play
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Gives ideas for kids on how to get active, facts about different sports and a sport contact list. Also provides quizzes, polls, competitions and a chatroom.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion
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24-30 November 2007
Fire prevention in multi-level buildings
This year, the Canada Safety Council's National Home Fire Safety Week reminds Canadians to focus on fire safety in multiple unit buildings, such as apartments, condominiums and office buildings.
Smoke—not fire—is what kills people most often
You must act quickly when you hear the alarm or discover a fire and protect yourself from smoke. According to Fire Prevention Canada, in addition to deadly carbon monoxide, smoke carries poisons such as hydrogen cyanide plus irritants such as formaldehyde and acetic acid. Added to this lethal environment are other toxic substances that come from burning synthetic materials commonly found in homes and offices, especially plastics and foams.
Always check for smoke before entering another area of the building.
If there were a fire in your building, would you know what to do?
- Leave immediately through the nearest exit. If possible, pull the fire alarm and/or yell fire! Do not use the elevator. Once outside or in a safe location, call the fire department and alert neighbours and/or colleagues.
- Before opening any door, feel to see if it is hot and look for smoke seeping around it. If you see smoke or feel heat, close the door quickly and protect yourself.
- If smoke begins to fill the room, stay close to the floor. The air will be more breathable there since smoke rises.
- If there is no safe exit, move to the room furthest from the fire with a window accessible from the outside. Shut the door and stay by the window. Open the window slightly or try to break a small section. If there is a phone in the room, call the fire department and alert others in the building.
- Use a piece of clothing, whistle, flashlight or your voice to attract attention. Direct rescuers to where you are.
- Once evacuated, do not return home or back to work until you have been told by police or fire officials that it is safe to do so.
Fire drills protect lives
Know the emergency evacuation plan for your building and practice regular fire drills. For more information, visit the website for National Home Fire Safety Week.
Related resources
- Fire escape planning: at work, at home
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Outlines the steps in developing fire escape plans for workplaces and homes, emphasizing the importance of practicing escape plans. Includes basic information about what to do in case of fire. Link requires PDF reader.
Source: Office of the Fire Commissioner (Manitoba)
- Highrise fires
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Provides safety information for occupants of high-rise buildings including: what to do if a fire is discovered or an alarm is heard; fire regulations; and prevention tips.
Source: City of Ottawa
From: Fire: prevention & education
- Emergency information for seniors
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Provides suggestions to help seniors prepare for emergency situations such as fire, severe storms, and floods.
Source: Manitoba Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat
- Emergency preparedness guide for people with disabilities/ special needs
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Suggest ways to prepare for an emergency. Lists do's and don'ts for assisting a person with a disability. Provides 'Emergency Survival Kit' checklists for various disability issues such as mobility, vision, hearing, travel, and more. Link requires PDF reader.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services
- Office fire safety
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Highlights safety practices fostering fire prevention in offices. Outlines points that employers and employees need to know to be prepared for safe responses to fire emergencies. Link requires PDF reader.
Source: Office of the Fire Commissioner (Manitoba)
- Fire consumes jobs
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Highlights fire safety in the workplace. Discusses the importance of good housekeeping, precautions when performing hot work, electrical hazards, and the correct handling of inflammable liquids. Link requires PDF reader.
Source: Office of the Fire Commissioner (Manitoba)
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25 November - 1 December 2007
Each year in Canada and around the world, the last week of November is AIDS Awareness Week, which culminates in World AIDS Day on December 1.
The goal of AIDS Awareness Week is to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and its prevention, and to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with it.
AIDS Service Organizations: helping to raise awareness
In Canada, there are AIDS Service Organizations across the country that work to prevent the spread of HIV in their communities and to create a supportive environment for those living with HIV/AIDS. They can offer:
- community education on HIV prevention
- support services and advocacy for people living with HIV/AIDS
- outreach for people at risk of getting HIV.
To locate an AIDS Service Organization near you, visit the Members and associates page of the Canadian AIDS Society.
Related resources
- Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre
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Provides information on HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment to community-based organizations, health and education professionals, resource centres and others needing information in Canada. Maintains a large library of resources. Distributes thousands of posters, pamphlets, and manuals every year.
Source: Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre
- Discrimination
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Stresses the importance of reducing stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS in Canada to help stop the spread of the epidemic and improve the quality of life of people living with the disease. Offers links to related news releases and publications, with an emphasis on the humans rights aspects of discrimination.
Source: Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
- AIDS Vancouver
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Works to reduce vulnerability to HIV and AIDS through care and support, education, advocacy, and research, in Vancouver and throughout British Columbia. Offers a helpline, outreach and library services, and professional development training. Develops collaborative community based responses to HIV/AIDS.
Source: AIDS Vancouver
- CONNECT: Canadian HIV/AIDS information gateway
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Provides a database, searching the collections of the five largest HIV/AIDS libraries in Canada. Produced by a partnership among the following organizations: AIDS Committee of Toronto, AIDS Vancouver, Canadian AIDS Treatment information Exchange, Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network.
Source: Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre
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