Representatives from Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre (BRT6HC), Battlefords Family Health Centre, Battlefords Indian and Métis Friendship Centre and supporters gather for World AIDS Day in North Battleford Thursday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Ending the stigma

Battlefords community recognizes World AIDS Day

Dec 1, 2022 | 2:31 PM

Supporters came together for World AIDS Day in North Battleford Thursday.

Initially, an awareness walk was planned, but due to the extreme cold temperature participants decided to have an indoor event with hot refreshments at the Battlefords Indian and Métis Friendship Centre instead.

The event was organized by Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre (BRT6HC) and Battlefords Family Health Centre with support from the Friendship Centre.

Amanda Maunula, outreach worker with Battlefords Family Health Centre, said she hopes the event helps start a conversation about HIV.

“It is a day to acknowledge those living with HIV and those who have passed on from having HIV,” she said. “We have organized an awareness day to bring people together to talk about HIV, to talk about how it is no longer a death sentence and how it is a very treatable and preventable illness.”

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Maunula noted Saskatchewan has had the highest rates of HIV per capita in the country for a long time.

“Our region also has high rates of HIV as well,” she said. “We want to talk about this so we can educate people in knowing what HIV is, how you get it, and how you can’t get it, to stop the stigmatization that exists with it.”

Maunula also hopes the day better helps make sure that “everybody is making safe choices in their life.”

Kent Lindgren, of Battlefords Family Health Centre, who is also a North Battleford city councillor, said it will take many people working together to reduce HIV numbers in Saskatchewan.

“It’s something we really need to work at as a community and as a province,” he said.

Lindgren said it involves the municipalities, the province and the federal government all coming together and working to address these issues.

The matter is not just about a communicable disease, but what leads to it. The issue is often about situations related to poverty, mental health challenges or addictions that can leave people more at risk.

“These are issues that not one group is able to address on their own,” he said. “So, without us coming together, it’s just not possible to make any improvements here.”

Lindgren added that World AIDS Day should be a hopeful time, not one of despair.

“HIV has changed in many ways,” he said. “We’ve lost a lot of friends and family. But there are still people living, and really doing well with HIV. It’s not what it once was.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow