December 1, 1997
(Health)

The following statement was issued today by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I rise today to ask Honourable Members to join me and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador in recognizing December 1, 1997, as World AIDS Day in this province and around the world.

While less dramatic than some Canadian provinces, the incidence of HIV in Newfoundland and Labrador continues to climb slowly but steadily. In fact, the spread of HIV between men and women is more common in this province per capita than most other places in Canada and we have one of the highest rates of HIV infection among pregnant women.

HIV/AIDS has gradually evolved from a short-term catastrophic disease affecting the adult population of homosexual middle-aged males, to a short-term chronic disease of a 15-20 year duration in which heterosexual populations of reproductive age are first diagnosed in their early twenties. While HIV/AIDS still carries a terminal outcome, the new combined therapies available today enable individuals to continue with educational attainment and transition to the labour market. One of our challenges, therefore, is to coordinate service delivery which increases quality of life, optimizes health, and reduces the costs of providing health and community services.

Over the past number of years, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, in partnership with a variety of community organizations, agencies and individuals, has made a tremendous effort to promote HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention in our homes, schools and communities.

The Community Health Regions are playing a major role in this effort, particularly in rural and isolated areas of the province. At the regional level, increasing emphasis is being placed on high-risk youth in an out-of-school environment, with linkages being made to addiction and mental health programs. In addition, HIV prevention has been integrated with the new school health curriculum of the Department of Education focussing on junior and senior high school students.

I would like to take this opportunity to announce in the House today that plans are currently underway for the Department of Health's Division of Health Promotion, in conjunction with the six Community Health Regions, to launch an advertising campaign early in the New Year. Television ads carrying a broad "safe practices to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases" message will be targeted toward sexually active adolescents and young adults, and are related to the parent and mentor support needed in decision-making and risk reduction.

In addition, we are planning to implement a 1-800 telephone line which will be promoted on the ads and will have the capability of directing calls back to the Community Health Region from which the call originates. Each region will answer their calls and respond to their own inquiries.

You may be interested to note, that the Department of Health is involved in the ongoing research, prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS-related illnesses. An important new study called the "Community Health Resource Project" is currently being undertaken by researchers at Memorial University. The provincial Department of Health has joined forces in partnership with Memorial University, the Newfoundland and Labrador AIDS Committee, the provincial Department of Human Resources and Employment, and the federal Department of Health, which is providing funding for the project, in a joint effort to combat the spread of the virus.

Researchers are collecting data about health services, community and social assistance, and other support services utilized by HIV-positive individuals. The results of the study will be used to assist community agencies and health planners in developing future strategies for improving our provincial social and health policies relevant to HIV and AIDS.

Before I conclude, I would just like to add that I was fortunate to have participated in the St. John's 7th Annual Walk for Aids which took place on September 28 at Quidi Vidi Lake, organized by the Newfoundland and Labrador AIDS Committee. I am pleased to say that $35,000 was raised that afternoon. These proceeds went into a special fund, being administered by the committee, which is expressly for the men, women, and children of our province who are infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

While a cure has yet to be found, there is good reason to be optimistic about the future. Clinical advances and new treatments continue to offer hope for individuals infected with HIV. And, while the message of prevention can not be overstated, it is encouraging to hear that deaths due to AIDS have begun to decline.

As we mark World AIDS Day in this province, we carry with us the urgent message of education and prevention, along with the universal desire for a cure.

I ask each member of the House to do his or her part by joining the people of our province in marking December 1st as World Aids Day in Newfoundland and Labrador.