Young people continue to be a population that is at high risk for HIV infection.
This year, in Canada, the average age of HIV infection is 23.
Youth Community Outreach AIDS Society (YouthCO) was formed in 1993 in response
to the lack of youth-specific programming in Canada. YouthCO is Canada’s only AIDS
Service Organization working exclusively with youth (ages 15-29) to address issues
around HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C (HCV). We provide educational and skills building
initiatives as well as support services for youth infected with and/or affected by
HIV/AIDS or co-infected with HIV and HCV. YouthCO is run by and for youth and we
aim to foster independence and ingenuity by providing outreach, prevention education,
training, volunteer opportunities and support to our peers. We at YouthCO
endeavor to reflect the diversity of all communities affected by HIV/AIDS and
HCV. This includes individuals of any age, race, religion, culture, ability, economic
level and health status. We are men, women, and transgendered; we are gay,
lesbian, bisexual and straight and we value our diversity.
YouthCo's services have never been so
necessary as they are now. For the first time in many years, HIV infection rates are
on the rise, especially among youth. Last year, the BC Centre for Disease and
Control noted a 71% increase in infections in young men who have sex with men. As
well, rates of HIV/HCV co-infection are steadily climbing. In terms of youth being
affected by HIV, many have the responsibility of caring for family members living
with HIV/AIDS and/or have to deal with being ostracized for being HIV positive.
Another detrimental aspect youth experience is dealing with the many myths and
stereotypes around HIV/AIDS. In order to deconstruct these stereotypes, we are
dedicated to educating youth on issues such as sexism, homophobia, classism,
racism and the ways these issues intersect with HIV/AIDS.
YouthCO is dedicated to the local and international fight against HIV/AIDS.
Currently, HIV/AIDS anti-retroviral drugs cost $10, 000/year US if they are from one
of the patents to manufacture the drugs. The same anti-retroviral treatment
in generic drugs costs $350/year US.
Obviously, generic competition for HIV/AIDS drugs simply brings down
the cost of the same-but-generic drugs. The generic price, however, is
still hefty for those developing countries that can put little more than $10 US per person
per year into their health care system. The challenge for humanity is to level and
even raise the bar on who has access to medicines.
Ideally, every person who lives with HIV/AIDS should have access to HIV/AIDS
medications. The local issue is that our own government is part the moral, political,
and credibility problem as shown by their behavior in the TRIPS negotiations,
the trade agreement under the WTO that includes patenting of drugs and essential
medicines.
It's time for the Canadian HIV/AIDS community to open our eyes to our government's position;
it's time to get informed, get angry, and get active.
