Aboriginal Presence for HIV Surveillance
On the international stage, Canada is praised for its multiculturalism. Let us extend this respect for culture to the health perspective. To do this, we should start with establishing an Aboriginal presence to be consulted on issues of ethics, culture and the barriers to government controlled disease surveillance. By signing the electronic petition on the link below, you agree to this and call for the government to work with the reputable Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) to draw from as this resource. We need to get the affected communities involved. More surveillance and monitoring efforts are needed with the involvement of the community members and leaders. This will make the current standard of epidemiology language and surveillance clearer to all involved. This will help in formulating more effective interventions and health education efforts. HIV is a multifaceted issue—there is the physical, the psychological and the spiritual component. To address the latter, cultural competency is key, especially at the intervention level.
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