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Ottawa announces $5 million for HIV self-test kits and support staff
Federal funding announced in Winnipeg will expand access to HIV self-test kits and add peer-support staff, as an estimated 7,000 people with HIV remain unaware of their status.
The federal government has announced $5 million for HIV prevention and support services.
Manitoba MP Doug Eyolfson announced the funding in Winnipeg with Dr. Joss Reimer, Canada’s chief public health officer. The money will help expand access to HIV self-test kits and hire more peer-support staff.
The government estimates that 7,000 people living with HIV are unaware of their status. Reimer said knowing one’s HIV status is an essential first step toward accessing care.
In May, Manitoba declared a public health emergency over HIV rates it said were three times higher than in the rest of Canada. The province reported 19.5 cases per 100,000 people in 2024, compared with a national rate of 5.5 per 100,000.
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can weaken the body’s defences and progress to AIDS, which can be life-threatening.