This year’s World Health Day theme hits the mark when it comes to ending the HIV epidemic within Canada: Building a fairer, healthier world for everyone.
While this year’s theme recognizes health disparities brought on by COVID-19, this has been a long-fought battle within the HIV/AIDS community in Canada and beyond. In many ways, COVID-19 has exacerbated the risk of acquiring HIV for many Canadians, even more so for marginalized groups.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has undercut recent health gains, pushed more people into poverty and food insecurity, and amplified gender, social and health inequities.”
Alongside COVID-19, the impact of HIV caused by health inequities continues to threaten the progress we’ve made on both national and global fronts. This World Health Day, we encourage you to remember we are fighting parallel battles and regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, economic status or location, every single person deserves equal, quality access to health services.