Canada
The HIV population is aging but the epidemic is not over. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) there were 1639 new cases of HIV diagnosed in Canada in 2020. 71.4% of these new cases were male and 28.6% female. The majority of these 1600 new cases 60.8% were the result of men having sex withmen (MSM). 12.8% were the resultof injecting drugs.
More than 50% of the 68000 people infected with HIV in Canada are now over 50 years old. This group hasa diverse background. It consists partly of people who have been HIV positive for a long time and partlyof people who have been infected more recently. The HIV population is aging. Much improved medication that is more easily accessible contributes greatly to this fact.
Still there are concerns. The Executive Director of The Canadian AIDS Society sounded the alarm. “More money is needed for HIV prevention because our targets are not being achieved.” The HIV population in Canada is aging but that the HIV epidemic unfortunately is not over yet.
(Source: Public Health agency of Canada)
Gregg
a lifelong activist
Gregg (62) became infected with the HIV virus in the early 1980s. As hard as it may be, it hasn’t often gotten in the way of his enjoyment of life.
Gregg has been a lifelong activist. His face was on the first poster used in a campaign warning against AIDS in 1984. He still fights against prejudice and ignorance every day.
Photo’s by Maryse Boyce