AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area receives federal funding

Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Jay Aspin
News Release

******************

Jay Aspin, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming, today announced federal government support for the AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area (ACNBA) on behalf of the Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq.

“‘Extending the Reach: HIV Regional Outreach and Education’ will greatly improve access to important information and services related to HIV/AIDS,” said MP Aspin.

“I am proud to announce that the Public Health Agency of Canada has chosen to invest in excess of $166,000 in this worthwhile program.”

The project will be led by the AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area (ACNBA), which uses education and outreach strategies to limit the spread of HIV, and to assist and support all people infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS in the region.

“Through HIV prevention and outreach campaigns, this project will ensure residents of North Bay and its surrounding area have access to the information and resources they need to make informed decisions about their health,” said Mr. Aspin.

“I commend the AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area for their continued dedication to addressing HIV/AIDS at the community-level and particularly among high-risk populations.”

The ACNBA is a community-based project to increase awareness and improve access to health care services for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in the North Bay area.

The organization aims to support all people infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS and to limit the spread of the virus through education and outreach strategies.

The “Extending the Reach: HIV Regional Outreach and Education” project will use prevention workshops, Web-based materials and outreach services to improve knowledge and access to HIV/AIDS resources especially among high-risk populations and those in remote locations.

“One of the unique focuses of this project will be addressing literacy needs,” said Dennis Chippa, HIV Education Coordinator for ACNBA.

“This funding will allow us to conduct a literacy assessment of our current educational materials so we can improve access to care, prevention and support among people with low literacy levels.”

The funding received by ACNBA is part of the more than $72 million that the Conservative Government is currently investing, through the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada.

A large portion of these funds assist community-based projects like this one across Canada to prevent the acquisition and transmission of new infections, slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life, and reduce the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS.

******************