Prince George, B.C. – Today is World AIDS Day.  

 

Northern Health continues its partnership with the Northern BC First Nations HIV/AIDS Coalition, on new HIV prevention efforts.

 

The Coalition has a mandate to support meaningful efforts for Aboriginal communities in Northern B.C. to address HIV/AIDS and related issues in a culturally relevant manner.

 

Northern Health supports the Coalition’s efforts through funding from the STOP HIV/AIDS pilot project, a four-year, provincially-funded program which is running in Prince George and Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside from 2010 to 2013.

 

“I am very pleased and honoured to receive the continuing support and confidence from Northern Health as they provide financial contributions to make our work successful” said Emma Palmantier, the Coalition’s Chair. “Because of their contribution, our team was able to conduct our community engagement survey, and I was able to travel to the 55 Northern First Nations communities and engage with all the chiefs and health directors and the communities at large.”

 

The results of that community engagement survey have become the guiding tool for the Coalition’s HIV/AIDS work.

 

“It’s the voice of the people,” adds Palmantier.