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The North an 'Emergency Hotspot' In Terms of HIV-Infections

By 250 News

December 1st is World AIDS Day and the Executive Director of Positive Living North, says 3.482 women around the globe will die today.

Carlene Dingwall says it is women and youth that are really vulnerable to HIV-infection in our region.  Dingwall says the predominant mode of transmission is still sharing needles, but she says the disease soon spreads from drug users to other groups in society.

Dingwall says, "We are really feeling that we are on the cusp of a major epidemic, here, in Prince George."  She says scientists are beginning to draw comparisons between what happened in Africa and what could happen here and in other rural areas across the country.  "In the North, we've got a lot of isolated and rural communities that, I think, have a general perception that HIV is not something they have to worry about or plan for, " says the Executive Director, "this lack of education and lack of things that reduce harm, like a needle exchange, make us really, really vulnerable."

Dingwall points out, "Our HIV rates have steadily been climbing, but, over the last couple of years, they've been doubling from the previous year, so we're seeing a real escalation."

Dingwall says service providers have been telling all levels of government about the need to tackle issues like poverty and substance abuse in a bid to address climbing infection rates, but she says, "No one is really stepping up to the plate, saying 'We're going to do this, and put these resources there.'"

Positive Living North and similar agencies, Dingwall contends, have had the same levels of funding for the past 8-10 years. "That's the most concerning thing because every week we have new people coming through our doors, every single week."

"I'm hoping, I mean, it hasn't happened yet, but I'm hoping the good news story will be that we don't have to see as many people die and that governments will actually get the resources into communities where it's desperately, desperately needed."
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