Province of Manitoba says HIV rates increasing, especially in women

Patrick Harney,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Since 2018, the number of new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases has been exponentially growing in Manitoba. The increasing rate of transmission led organizations like HIV Manitoba to raise the alarm around the issue.

According to Nine Circles Community Health Centre, in 2018, the number of individuals newly diagnosed with HIV was 111. Last year, that number increased dramatically to 388 and as of May of this year, 155 more individuals have been diagnosed. Based on projections from the University of Manitoba, if this trend continues, Manitoba could see 884 new cases in 2027.

In May of this year, some of HIV Manitoba’s calls were heard when the provincial government announced they will provide full coverage for HIV related medications. This includes pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP), which lowers the likelihood that one exposed to HIV will get the virus, as well as Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), which is designed to suppress the virus for those living with HIV.

“HIV treatment is expensive,” Mike Payne, executive director at Nine Circles and strategic lead for HIV Manitoba, says. “There’s people who are deferring treatment or not taking their treatment or not adhering to their treatment properly because they can’t afford it and they have to make choices.”

In addition to the government coverage, the government has also removed the need for health-care providers to register to prescribe PrEP, meaning they are able to get PrEP to those that need it. These decisions are designed to break down one of the largest barriers to treatment – access.

While the stereotype is that HIV primarily affects men who have sex with men, 50% of Manitobans with HIV are female.

Individuals most at risk are those most structurally disadvantaged, including unhoused people and individuals who use substances.

“There’s a lack of awareness and understanding among people in the community around how HIV transmission occurs and what the prognosis is,” Haran Vijayanathan, Community Health and Wellness Director at Klinic, says.

To help people know their status, Klinic runs drop-in sexually transmitted and blood borne infection testing clinics where people can get tested and connected to treatment without having to worry about payment.

Payne says that reducing the rate of transmission requires a strategy centred on harm reduction. This includes a housing strategy that ensures that individuals living with HIV have access to safe and secure housing.

While provincial coverage is a major gain, Payne says this is the beginning of a difficult conversation which requires breaking down stereotypes, combating engrained homophobia and empowering key stakeholders.

“It’s all about the social determinants of health that get us here in the first place,” Payne says. “That’s the shift in the health care system that we’re hoping really does happen because that should be how we can avoid these types of crises in the future.”

Patrick Harney,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Leaf