December 1st is World AIDS Day and the Green Party of Canada is encouraging the Government of Canada to put greater resources into the fight against HIV. “An estimated 33.3 million people are living with HIV and we all must work incredibly hard to meet the goal of the UNESCO’s Strategy for HIV and Aids of zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands.
The Green Party is advocating key steps to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and to better manage its impacts. More resources need to be put into harm reduction, prevention and education efforts directed towards high-risk populations. This includes delivery of antiretroviral therapies to HIV-positive drug users, a marginalized group in Canada which is currently receiving unacceptably low levels of medical support. Greens would also like to see Canada become a world leader in providing low-cost AIDS medicines and medical services for HIV-positive people in third-world countries, especially the most impacted countries of Africa.
“It is vital that we deliver effective, non-judgmental prevention and treatment programs both at home and abroad,” said May.