New study will see Nova Scotia pharmacies test for HIV
Eric Smith remembers when he tested positive for HIV in 1986. He said it was a process that ostracized people.
“There was a master list and your name actually went on a list of the Department of Health. There was always a record and that’s what scared a lot people off,” said Smith.
Now, a new process will be introduced which will make testing for sexually transmitted and blood borne illnesses like Hepatitis C and syphilis easier.
It’s a national program that will be seen in certain provinces across Canada, including Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
“Pharmacies that were interested that were in the areas that the project was looking at were able to apply directly to the research team and go through the selection process,” said Alison Bodnar, CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia.
Ten pharmacies will be participating in the study. The goal is to make health care more accessible.
“We know from our INR program that patients like having access close to home, where it’s convenient, and in a private confidential area,” said Bodnar.
According to Health and Social Services, one in five people living with HIV in Canada do not know it. If left untreated, HIV leads to AIDS.
While there is no cure to HIV, treatment allows people to continue living a healthy life.
“People don’t even know they have this, which allows the spreading to happen even further. By giving people a place to come and be tested in a way that’s comfortable for them, we’re hoping that will contribute to better health,” said Bodnar.
In October, Nova Scotia Health reported an increase in people newly diagnosed with HIV in the province and emphasized the importance of getting tested to know their status and make informed decisions about their health accordingly.
Smith said having pharmacies test for HIV is a step forward. He hopes to one day see testing in even more pharmacies across Nova Scotia.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
Residents of northern Alberta First Nation told to shelter in place
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'