🎯At a population level, maximizing ART uptake for
HIV has been shown to prevent the transmission of HIV and decrease the incidence of new HIV diagnoses

🎯This concept is referred to as “Treatment as Prevention” or “TasP”

🎯PLWH who have undetectable viral loads do not sexually transmit HIV

🎯This concept is known as “U=U” or “Undetectable = Untransmittable

💊As of June 2024, Manitoba HIV Medications Program now covers most medications used for the prevention and
treatment of HIV, including:

💊pre-exposure prophylaxis
💊post-exposure prophylaxis
💊ART for people living with HIV

🎯In only the first few months of operating, PATHS has demonstrated significant success in linking people to
HIV care and supporting them to achieve viral suppression, with over 75% of PATHS clients on HIV treatment, and nearly half of PATHS clients achieving viral suppression

📊There were 151 people referred to the MB HIV Program who have not been successfully linked to HIV
care

📊Only 66% of people referred to the MB HIV Program have a suppressed viral

🎯Innovative and meaningful efforts are needed to successfully engage & retain
people living with HIV in care

📊A total of 2,301 people have been diagnosed with HIV and referred to the MB HIV Program as of Nov. 8,
2024.

📊Many people diagnosed with HIV are linked to HIV care, but are not then successfully retained in HIV
care

📈Between 2021 and 2023, there was a 130% increase in the # of people newly diagnosed with HIV & referred to the MB HIV Program

📈In 2023, the incidence of HIV in MB (26.4 HIV diagnoses/100,000 people) was >5 times higher than the incidence of HIV in Canada in 2022 (4.7 HIV diagnoses/100,000 people)

📃MB HIV Program Update for World AIDS Day 2024

🏥The MB HIV Program provides specialized care, treatment and support to >2,300 people living with HIV across MB

📈The incidence of new HIV diagnoses has increased yearly since 1985, but a sharp increase in new diagnoses was seen over the last 3 years

Facilitators to HIV care included:

✅Successfully stopping substance use
✅Perception of caring service providers particularly during HIV diagnosis
✅Welcoming healthcare environments
✅Social opportunities & integrated supports
✅Supportive social networks

Barriers to HIV care included:

⛔️Navigating the initial shock of receiving HIV diagnosis
⛔️Mental health challenges & inaccessible supports
⛔️Substance use
⛔️Violence
⛔️Discrimination by primary care service providers & social networks
⛔️Lack of preventative &
social supports
⛔️Lack of accessible housing

📋This was a qualitative study, co-designed and co-led alongside people with lived experience and a research advisory committee

🏥Aimed to understand Manitobans living with HIV’s gendered and intersecting barriers and facilitators across the cascade of HIV care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

📈As of 2023, the incidence of HIV in Manitoba has risen to 26.4 HIV diagnoses/100,000 people - over five times higher than the incidence of HIV in Canada in 2022 (4.7 HIV diagnoses/100,000 people).

📈In Manitoba between 2018 and 2021, the provincial incidence of HIV increased from 7.9 HIV diagnoses/100,000 people to 12.2 HIV diagnoses/100,000 people.

📊This was 3 times the Canadian national incidence, which in 2020 was 4 HIV diagnoses/100,000 people

🚨Published today, our paper:

📃”Gender and Intersecting Barriers and Facilitators to Access the
HIV Cascade of Care in Manitoba, Canada, Before and During
the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study”

🫶Led by Dr. Zulma Rueda & her incredible research team

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