The Fire Pit will host a candlelight vigil from noon until 3pm today at 1120 3rd Avenue

Prince George, BC –  Positive Living North is hosting a three-hour candlelight vigil at The Fire Pit Cultural Centre this afternoon as part of local events marking World AIDS Day…

PLN Education Manager, Sandra Sasaki, says the vigil is open to everyone and will honour those who have passed, support those living with AIDS/HIV, as well as bring continued awareness to the disease.

She says the ceremony varies from year to year, but typically is a moving and emotional tribute.  "Sometimes people speak and share their stories, other years the names of people who have passed in our area are read out and they’re remembered.  The ceremony draws people from all parts of the community."

The theme of this year’s day is ‘Getting to Zero’ – zero new infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths.  "And that’s really our goal," says Sasaki.  "We would like to see this disease stopped because it’s 100-percent preventable."

She points out that 25-percent of people who have HIV are not aware that they are infected, "That’s why it’s really important that if you’ve ever had unprotected sex – ever – and if you’ve ever shared any kind of drug equipment, please, go and get tested."

"I just can’t encourage people enough to do that because then we could get to zero."  Sasaki says the rate of new infections in the Prince George region is the third highest in the province behind the Northwest and Vancouver – at 9.7 per 100-thousand people, 11.9 per 100-thousand, and 24.4 per 100-thousand, respectively. 

Yesterday, BC Health Minister, Margaret MacDiarmid, announced $19.9-million dollars in annual funding for the expansion of STOP HIV/AIDS province-wide program, which is implemented in our region through a partnership between Northern Health and the BC First Nations HIV/AIDS Coaltion.

MacDiarmid says the disease has gone from being an imminent death sentence to a long-term manageable condition over the past 30 years and the funding will help expand the successful STOP pilot initiatives.  "By reaching and engaging more British Columbians at-risk for, or living with, HIV/AIDS, not only will better care be provided, the treatment will also significantly reduce the spread of the virus."

New Democrat health critic, Mike Farnworth, is applauding the move to expand the program over the entire province.  "This program exemplifies the kind of innovative and effective strategies to slow HIV transmission that have made British Columbian organizations such as the Dr. Peter Foundation and the BC Centre fo Excellence for HIV-AIDS world leaders in treating the virus and fighting its spread."

"Hopefully with the continued support of governments and the work of AIDS researchers all over the world," says Farnworth.  "The dream of an HIV free generation will not be long in becoming a reality."