Topic: HIV/AIDS
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Lauren Hicks
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Canada position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is an epidemic that cannot be cured. Today, 37 million have contracted HIV. Between 1998 and 2018, the number of AIDS diagnoses was the highest ever reported worldwide. Because of the negative hostility toward the LGBT+ community in multiple countries, many face hate, violence, and stigmatization. Those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS are prone to anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies due to this animosity. As well as, it is extremely difficult to find the source of infection and to contact other partners. The United Nations program, UNAIDS, has worked to prevent HIV by providing female and male condoms, antiviral medications, and pre-packaged needles and syringes to all who need them in countries that cannot afford these supplies. UNAIDS Programming Board is committed to end the AIDS epidemic in 2030 and reduce inequalities to HIV and AIDS patients.
Canada fully supports UNAIDS and supports the United Nations’ 90-90-90 initiative. The initiative is that 90 percent of people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90 percent of people diagnosed with HIV will receive antiretroviral therapy, and 90 percent of people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression. The Canadian Health Act does not cover medication costs to patients with HIV/AIDS, but gives access to free physician help and hospital care. Thus, anyone can be freely tested and examined for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Many who are high risk to get HIV are prescribed Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a preventative antiviral medication to lower to risk of spreading the disease. Today, 131 countries do not allow PrEP, thereby allowing for the spread of infection. Canada has also created the Canadian Aid Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE), a program to help those diagnosed with HIV and promotes prevention tactics to those that are at high risk of infection, such as PrEP and male and female condoms. Canada will continue to fund UNAIDS and CATIE to support the 90-90-90 initiative and to eradicate the HIV epidemic by 2030.
Canada proposes the international community of the United Nations to take initiative to provide for the treatment and prevention of HIV and AIDS as well as provide resources for those infected, such as, counseling and partner notification services. Canada also asks that all countries support the World Health Organization (WHO) by working to eliminate the spread of HIV through mother-to-child transmission, sexual transmission, and contaminated needles.
