
it is it is wonderful to be here as Kate mentioned I’m a graduate of trout
mentioned I’m a graduate of trout
mentioned I’m a graduate of trout graduate this year so I’m not going to
graduate this year so I’m not going to
graduate this year so I’m not going to tell you what my gear was but I will
tell you what my gear was but I will
tell you what my gear was but I will give you a little glimpse of your future
give you a little glimpse of your future
give you a little glimpse of your future when I was sitting up there just now I
when I was sitting up there just now I
when I was sitting up there just now I texted my best friend appear sit back
texted my best friend appear sit back
texted my best friend appear sit back you’re never going to believe in him in
you’re never going to believe in him in
you’re never going to believe in him in the Matabele surrounded by people saying
the Matabele surrounded by people saying
the Matabele surrounded by people saying they’re here for teach in fact you’re
they’re here for teach in fact you’re
they’re here for teach in fact you’re all so young and beautiful and
all so young and beautiful and
all so young and beautiful and intelligent I had a really hard time
intelligent I had a really hard time
intelligent I had a really hard time believing that I was ever one of you but
believing that I was ever one of you but
believing that I was ever one of you but I do remember quite clearly I was
I do remember quite clearly I was
I do remember quite clearly I was thinking about this driving in today I
thinking about this driving in today I
thinking about this driving in today I was sitting right down there somewhere
was sitting right down there somewhere
was sitting right down there somewhere it was an event like this and the
it was an event like this and the
it was an event like this and the speaker on stage a woman calling me
speaker on stage a woman calling me
speaker on stage a woman calling me telling us about what it was like to
telling us about what it was like to
telling us about what it was like to live with HIV to be HIV positive it was
live with HIV to be HIV positive it was
live with HIV to be HIV positive it was the first time I had ever knowingly been
the first time I had ever knowingly been
the first time I had ever knowingly been in a room with someone who admitted that
in a room with someone who admitted that
in a room with someone who admitted that they are HIV positive happened here just
they are HIV positive happened here just
they are HIV positive happened here just right down there and you know since then
right down there and you know since then
right down there and you know since then I’ve gone to university I’ve become an
I’ve gone to university I’ve become an
I’ve gone to university I’ve become an adults theoretically and have a mortgage
adults theoretically and have a mortgage
adults theoretically and have a mortgage and child to prove it what I have to
and child to prove it what I have to
and child to prove it what I have to know is I’m trying to dedicate my
know is I’m trying to dedicate my
know is I’m trying to dedicate my working life to HIV and to contributing
working life to HIV and to contributing
working life to HIV and to contributing to the effort the global effort to end
to the effort the global effort to end
to the effort the global effort to end HIV to make it to eliminate it to
HIV to make it to eliminate it to
HIV to make it to eliminate it to exterminate it to mean that none of our
exterminate it to mean that none of our
exterminate it to mean that none of our children will level have to worry about
children will level have to worry about
children will level have to worry about us live with it so the idea that I want
us live with it so the idea that I want
us live with it so the idea that I want to get across to you today is quite
to get across to you today is quite
to get across to you today is quite simple this is really the product of my
simple this is really the product of my
simple this is really the product of my life last 25 years ending AIDS is a
life last 25 years ending AIDS is a
life last 25 years ending AIDS is a possibility we have all the tools in our
possibility we have all the tools in our
possibility we have all the tools in our hands right now to be able to eliminate
hands right now to be able to eliminate
hands right now to be able to eliminate it significant substantial public health
it significant substantial public health
it significant substantial public health concern possibly as early as early as
concern possibly as early as early as
concern possibly as early as early as 2013
2013
2013 in fact ending AIDS is not a medical
in fact ending AIDS is not a medical
in fact ending AIDS is not a medical challenge any longer it is a political
challenge any longer it is a political
challenge any longer it is a political social and a cultural issue and that is
social and a cultural issue and that is
social and a cultural issue and that is what I want to try and get across to you
what I want to try and get across to you
what I want to try and get across to you today
first of all let’s start with the basics
first of all let’s start with the basics what are the numbers HIV by any stretch
what are the numbers HIV by any stretch
what are the numbers HIV by any stretch is one of the most important global
is one of the most important global
is one of the most important global issues facing the world today 36 million
issues facing the world today 36 million
issues facing the world today 36 million people around the world are living with
people around the world are living with
people around the world are living with the virus which causes AIDS
the virus which causes AIDS
the virus which causes AIDS and in a hundred percent of cases leads
and in a hundred percent of cases leads
and in a hundred percent of cases leads to death last year 1.1 million people
to death last year 1.1 million people
to death last year 1.1 million people died of AIDS and 2.1 million people were
died of AIDS and 2.1 million people were
died of AIDS and 2.1 million people were newly infected so this is a problem that
newly infected so this is a problem that
newly infected so this is a problem that is growing not receiving it is
is growing not receiving it is
is growing not receiving it is unfortunately not a disease of rich
unfortunately not a disease of rich
unfortunately not a disease of rich white people in northern climates like
white people in northern climates like
white people in northern climates like me but rather it is increasingly a
me but rather it is increasingly a
me but rather it is increasingly a disease of the people in the South
disease of the people in the South
disease of the people in the South people who are around black to yellow
people who are around black to yellow
people who are around black to yellow and increasingly of women as this shows
and increasingly of women as this shows
and increasingly of women as this shows there are unfortunately some countries
there are unfortunately some countries
there are unfortunately some countries especially in sub-sahara sub-saharan
especially in sub-sahara sub-saharan
especially in sub-sahara sub-saharan Africa were approximately 15% of the
Africa were approximately 15% of the
Africa were approximately 15% of the adult population other than with HIV
adult population other than with HIV
adult population other than with HIV here in Canada we have a much smaller
here in Canada we have a much smaller
here in Canada we have a much smaller epidemic about 1/10 of 1% of all
epidemic about 1/10 of 1% of all
epidemic about 1/10 of 1% of all Canadians are living with the virus
Canadians are living with the virus
Canadians are living with the virus however similar to the global pattern it
however similar to the global pattern it
however similar to the global pattern it is disproportionately affecting people
is disproportionately affecting people
is disproportionately affecting people who are already vulnerable chlorella
who are already vulnerable chlorella
who are already vulnerable chlorella already marginalized like this man an
already marginalized like this man an
already marginalized like this man an indigenous person who uses drugs and
indigenous person who uses drugs and
indigenous person who uses drugs and they treat Downtown Eastside which is
they treat Downtown Eastside which is
they treat Downtown Eastside which is also the neighborhood I live in working
also the neighborhood I live in working
also the neighborhood I live in working in my community 25% of individuals
in my community 25% of individuals
in my community 25% of individuals especially women who are working in sex
especially women who are working in sex
especially women who are working in sex work
work
work men who are men and women who are using
men who are men and women who are using
men who are men and women who are using injection drugs proximately 25% of them
injection drugs proximately 25% of them
injection drugs proximately 25% of them are living with HIV
are living with HIV
are living with HIV what is HIV well it’s a virus that those
what is HIV well it’s a virus that those
what is HIV well it’s a virus that those little three inspects that you can see
little three inspects that you can see
little three inspects that you can see on this electron micrograph and like
on this electron micrograph and like
on this electron micrograph and like every bias virus it needs a host to
every bias virus it needs a host to
every bias virus it needs a host to reproduce and to spread HIV chooses the
reproduce and to spread HIV chooses the
reproduce and to spread HIV chooses the cells of the human immune system over
cells of the human immune system over
cells of the human immune system over time and colonize it that systems
time and colonize it that systems
time and colonize it that systems leading to
leading to
leading to human dysfunction and to death
human dysfunction and to death
human dysfunction and to death fortunately for us as a species it’s
fortunately for us as a species it’s
fortunately for us as a species it’s very hard to get HIV casual contact
very hard to get HIV casual contact
very hard to get HIV casual contact touching kissing sharing knives and
touching kissing sharing knives and
touching kissing sharing knives and spoons etc none of that spreads HIV what
spoons etc none of that spreads HIV what
spoons etc none of that spreads HIV what is needed is transfusions of blood
is needed is transfusions of blood
is needed is transfusions of blood between individuals often the client
between individuals often the client
between individuals often the client that happens during sexual contacts
that happens during sexual contacts
that happens during sexual contacts vertically although that is increasingly
vertically although that is increasingly
vertically although that is increasingly not an issue in Canada by which I mean
not an issue in Canada by which I mean
not an issue in Canada by which I mean the transmission between a mother and
the transmission between a mother and
the transmission between a mother and her daughter for child 3 during
her daughter for child 3 during
her daughter for child 3 during childbirth or as I mentioned earlier the
childbirth or as I mentioned earlier the
childbirth or as I mentioned earlier the sharing of used injecting equipment we
sharing of used injecting equipment we
sharing of used injecting equipment we have no cure we have no vaccine and so
have no cure we have no vaccine and so
have no cure we have no vaccine and so in a hundred percent of untreated cases
in a hundred percent of untreated cases
in a hundred percent of untreated cases within approximately ten years the
within approximately ten years the
within approximately ten years the individual community system will cease
individual community system will cease
individual community system will cease to function and they could die as soon
to function and they could die as soon
to function and they could die as soon as something as simple as the console
as something as simple as the console
as something as simple as the console fortunately what we do have and what
fortunately what we do have and what
fortunately what we do have and what we’ve developed over the last 20 years
we’ve developed over the last 20 years
we’ve developed over the last 20 years is treatment before the virus this is an
is treatment before the virus this is an
is treatment before the virus this is an individual who’s taking a pill a
individual who’s taking a pill a
individual who’s taking a pill a once-a-day pill for HIV which manages to
once-a-day pill for HIV which manages to
once-a-day pill for HIV which manages to interrupt with how the virus operates it
interrupt with how the virus operates it
interrupt with how the virus operates it and it leaves no trace of the virus left
and it leaves no trace of the virus left
and it leaves no trace of the virus left it’s not a cure they still have HIV
it’s not a cure they still have HIV
it’s not a cure they still have HIV however the important part is that it
however the important part is that it
however the important part is that it puts the disease into religious by boss
puts the disease into religious by boss
puts the disease into religious by boss with the tradition we’ve been treating
with the tradition we’ve been treating
with the tradition we’ve been treating HIV patients he likes to tell the story
HIV patients he likes to tell the story
HIV patients he likes to tell the story of how originally when people would come
of how originally when people would come
of how originally when people would come to him newly diagnosed with HIV here we
to him newly diagnosed with HIV here we
to him newly diagnosed with HIV here we typically tell them that they would have
typically tell them that they would have
typically tell them that they would have for months now with a new treatment the
for months now with a new treatment the
for months now with a new treatment the promises new people new type of things
promises new people new type of things
promises new people new type of things I’d be that they will dance at the
I’d be that they will dance at the
I’d be that they will dance at the wedding’s of their children and in fact
wedding’s of their children and in fact
wedding’s of their children and in fact the life expectancy for someone living
the life expectancy for someone living
the life expectancy for someone living with HIV who is well treated in modern
with HIV who is well treated in modern
with HIV who is well treated in modern medicine exceeds that of HIV negative
now of course there are some other
now of course there are some other considerations these pills are expensive
considerations these pills are expensive
considerations these pills are expensive typically will it depends on what kind
typically will it depends on what kind
typically will it depends on what kind of pills you have this might be as much
of pills you have this might be as much
of pills you have this might be as much as $20,000 per month and of course this
as $20,000 per month and of course this
as $20,000 per month and of course this is for the rest of an individual’s life
is for the rest of an individual’s life
is for the rest of an individual’s life like any pills they have side effects
like any pills they have side effects
like any pills they have side effects and they’re really the requirement of
and they’re really the requirement of
and they’re really the requirement of what we call lifetime and heroes these
what we call lifetime and heroes these
what we call lifetime and heroes these one delegate to the rest of us because
one delegate to the rest of us because
one delegate to the rest of us because of this medical pocket has been his help
of this medical pocket has been his help
of this medical pocket has been his help wait until they get sick and only then
wait until they get sick and only then
wait until they get sick and only then did the pills but by any measure the
did the pills but by any measure the
did the pills but by any measure the development of these pills has been a
development of these pills has been a
development of these pills has been a remarkable success
remarkable success
remarkable success this shows the death rate from HIV in
this shows the death rate from HIV in
this shows the death rate from HIV in the United States between I did
the United States between I did
the United States between I did something
so this red line shows the death rate
so this red line shows the death rate from HIV in the United States between
from HIV in the United States between
from HIV in the United States between 1987 and the late 1990s and just like Al
1987 and the late 1990s and just like Al
1987 and the late 1990s and just like Al Gore’s famous line you’ll see that in
Gore’s famous line you’ll see that in
Gore’s famous line you’ll see that in the early part of the nineties the
the early part of the nineties the
the early part of the nineties the number of people dying from HIV went up
number of people dying from HIV went up
number of people dying from HIV went up and up and up so on the peak of that
and up and up so on the peak of that
and up and up so on the peak of that line that was the leading cause of death
line that was the leading cause of death
line that was the leading cause of death for adults in the United States the
for adults in the United States the
for adults in the United States the topical line indicates where new
topical line indicates where new
topical line indicates where new treatment was where treatment was first
treatment was where treatment was first
treatment was where treatment was first introduced and you can see that very
introduced and you can see that very
introduced and you can see that very quickly people thought on treatment and
quickly people thought on treatment and
quickly people thought on treatment and quite simply they stopped on this has
quite simply they stopped on this has
quite simply they stopped on this has been replicated around the world America
been replicated around the world America
been replicated around the world America billions of lives saved what we also
billions of lives saved what we also
billions of lives saved what we also learned was that not only half people
learned was that not only half people
learned was that not only half people are it prevented it passing along
are it prevented it passing along
are it prevented it passing along infection to anyone else we learned
infection to anyone else we learned
infection to anyone else we learned three pregnant women back in the early
three pregnant women back in the early
three pregnant women back in the early nineties there were no treatment and so
nineties there were no treatment and so
nineties there were no treatment and so in childbirth women would often pass the
in childbirth women would often pass the
in childbirth women would often pass the infection along however after they were
infection along however after they were
infection along however after they were put on medication those cases so some
put on medication those cases so some
put on medication those cases so some smart scientists much smarter than I am
smart scientists much smarter than I am
smart scientists much smarter than I am in South Africa thought was thinking
in South Africa thought was thinking
in South Africa thought was thinking well what have we treated everyone with
well what have we treated everyone with
well what have we treated everyone with difference what have we found
difference what have we found
difference what have we found everyone in the population who was
everyone in the population who was
everyone in the population who was living with HIV put the country it would
it made a very complicated computer
it made a very complicated computer simulation and the result was the Green
simulation and the result was the Green
simulation and the result was the Green Line the computer said that after 20
Line the computer said that after 20
Line the computer said that after 20 years there would simply be no more new
years there would simply be no more new
years there would simply be no more new cases of alien so doctors we don’t do
cases of alien so doctors we don’t do
cases of alien so doctors we don’t do anything without what’s called a
anything without what’s called a
anything without what’s called a clinical trial this was a clinical trial
clinical trial this was a clinical trial
clinical trial this was a clinical trial published in 2011 and what it really
published in 2011 and what it really
published in 2011 and what it really showed was that this
showed was that this
showed was that this eeeh that we should put people on
eeeh that we should put people on
eeeh that we should put people on treatment to keep them alive and to keep
treatment to keep them alive and to keep
treatment to keep them alive and to keep them from passing along their virus and
them from passing along their virus and
them from passing along their virus and we need to show that it works quite
we need to show that it works quite
we need to show that it works quite simply there was among the people who
simply there was among the people who
simply there was among the people who were given the early treatment there was
were given the early treatment there was
were given the early treatment there was a 96 percent decline in the number of
a 96 percent decline in the number of
a 96 percent decline in the number of new infections compared to the people
new infections compared to the people
new infections compared to the people who waited that’s led to a new United
who waited that’s led to a new United
who waited that’s led to a new United Nations program called the 9090 and
Nations program called the 9090 and
Nations program called the 9090 and these this is the official globalization
these this is the official globalization
these this is the official globalization is response to how we should deal with
is response to how we should deal with
is response to how we should deal with the epidemic quite simply it says that
the epidemic quite simply it says that
the epidemic quite simply it says that for us we have to we have to make sure
for us we have to we have to make sure
for us we have to we have to make sure that according to mathematical
that according to mathematical
that according to mathematical simulations should be do that
simulations should be do that
simulations should be do that illuminating a very proud to say ABC
illuminating a very proud to say ABC
illuminating a very proud to say ABC party show that is possible since 2010
party show that is possible since 2010
party show that is possible since 2010 the government has invested in a program
the government has invested in a program
the government has invested in a program called treatment intervention has tried
called treatment intervention has tried
called treatment intervention has tried to encourage testing and ensure that
to encourage testing and ensure that
to encourage testing and ensure that everyone what’s been the result but a
everyone what’s been the result but a
everyone what’s been the result but a blue light show with the more and more
blue light show with the more and more
blue light show with the more and more people in Colombia are on treatment and
people in Colombia are on treatment and
people in Colombia are on treatment and the blue line went up the red line so
the blue line went up the red line so
the blue line went up the red line so the number of new cases have gone down
the number of new cases have gone down
the number of new cases have gone down this is a terrible terrible slide what
this is a terrible terrible slide what
this is a terrible terrible slide what it does show is that here BC where the
it does show is that here BC where the
it does show is that here BC where the only problem to see a reduction in the
only problem to see a reduction in the
only problem to see a reduction in the number of new cases
number of new cases
number of new cases BC is also the only province so far to
BC is also the only province so far to
BC is also the only province so far to invest in this kind of strategy to end
invest in this kind of strategy to end
invest in this kind of strategy to end the pandemic
the pandemic
the pandemic so what does this mean
so what does this mean
so what does this mean quite simply if your individual living
quite simply if your individual living
quite simply if your individual living with HIV if you get on medication for
with HIV if you get on medication for
with HIV if you get on medication for disease and be in remission and you’ll
disease and be in remission and you’ll
disease and be in remission and you’ll not positive law for a community the
not positive law for a community the
not positive law for a community the more people that we can get on the
more people that we can get on the
more people that we can get on the treatment you can get life-saving health
treatment you can get life-saving health
treatment you can get life-saving health care the more will be lessened by the
care the more will be lessened by the
care the more will be lessened by the less but the sad reality today is around
less but the sad reality today is around
less but the sad reality today is around the world less than 30% of the people
the world less than 30% of the people
the world less than 30% of the people currently live with HIV have access and
currently live with HIV have access and
currently live with HIV have access and are on this life-saving treatment and
are on this life-saving treatment and
are on this life-saving treatment and this is the reason why so what are the
this is the reason why so what are the
this is the reason why so what are the real barriers why are we doing better
real barriers why are we doing better
real barriers why are we doing better why are the 70% of people out there who
why are the 70% of people out there who
why are the 70% of people out there who are living with HIV who don’t have the
are living with HIV who don’t have the
are living with HIV who don’t have the medications they need to stay alive
medications they need to stay alive
medications they need to stay alive while you’re hoping to stay calm and
while you’re hoping to stay calm and
while you’re hoping to stay calm and it’s certainly true in the delivering
it’s certainly true in the delivering
it’s certainly true in the delivering medications of these folks is expensive
medications of these folks is expensive
medications of these folks is expensive BCG spend 80 million dollars every year
BCG spend 80 million dollars every year
BCG spend 80 million dollars every year on however is short-term off results in
on however is short-term off results in
on however is short-term off results in medium and long term savers because
medium and long term savers because
medium and long term savers because every person who doesn’t get sick who
every person who doesn’t get sick who
every person who doesn’t get sick who doesn’t die who stays in the workforce
doesn’t die who stays in the workforce
doesn’t die who stays in the workforce does not give pass along the virus along
does not give pass along the virus along
does not give pass along the virus along with his family or his friends
but it remains that cost an act of
but it remains that cost an act of healthcare is a challenge we’ve heard
healthcare is a challenge we’ve heard
healthcare is a challenge we’ve heard today about a woman who took two days to
today about a woman who took two days to
today about a woman who took two days to carry her there similarly for many
carry her there similarly for many
carry her there similarly for many people in with HIV they simply do not
people in with HIV they simply do not
people in with HIV they simply do not have access to health care but another
have access to health care but another
have access to health care but another problem is stigma and discrimination
problem is stigma and discrimination
problem is stigma and discrimination we’ve heard Oswell things about the cost
we’ve heard Oswell things about the cost
we’ve heard Oswell things about the cost the terrible toll of stigma
the terrible toll of stigma
the terrible toll of stigma discrimination for people who are living
discrimination for people who are living
discrimination for people who are living with mental health interest it is
with mental health interest it is
with mental health interest it is similar to people that we with HIV for
similar to people that we with HIV for
similar to people that we with HIV for many of them they do not want anyone to
many of them they do not want anyone to
many of them they do not want anyone to know that they are HIV positive they
know that they are HIV positive they
know that they are HIV positive they thought even their family members are
thought even their family members are
thought even their family members are you in there doctors I remember I hear
you in there doctors I remember I hear
you in there doctors I remember I hear me one camp who is HIV positive I said
me one camp who is HIV positive I said
me one camp who is HIV positive I said well when you go to jail why you stopped
well when you go to jail why you stopped
well when you go to jail why you stopped taking your pills
taking your pills
taking your pills he said wants to Arizona because if I
he said wants to Arizona because if I
he said wants to Arizona because if I take my pills in jail someone might find
take my pills in jail someone might find
take my pills in jail someone might find out of hiv-positive and they’ll be you
out of hiv-positive and they’ll be you
out of hiv-positive and they’ll be you know anytime
know anytime
know anytime so though those sorts of reasons why
so though those sorts of reasons why
so though those sorts of reasons why people conceal their better status you
people conceal their better status you
people conceal their better status you cannot secret health therapy and the
cannot secret health therapy and the
cannot secret health therapy and the issue that I’m really interested in is
issue that I’m really interested in is
issue that I’m really interested in is the one in addiction so many people who
the one in addiction so many people who
the one in addiction so many people who are living with HIV are also living an
are living with HIV are also living an
are living with HIV are also living an addiction there are drug users that are
addiction there are drug users that are
addiction there are drug users that are addicted to heroin or cocaine and
addicted to heroin or cocaine and
addicted to heroin or cocaine and unfortunately as a society what we do is
unfortunately as a society what we do is
unfortunately as a society what we do is we criminalize people who are addicted
we criminalize people who are addicted
we criminalize people who are addicted to heroin cocaine a but more likely to
to heroin cocaine a but more likely to
to heroin cocaine a but more likely to go to jail than to receive a sort of
go to jail than to receive a sort of
go to jail than to receive a sort of health care that they mean by the
health care that they mean by the
health care that they mean by the addiction treatment at like infinity so
addiction treatment at like infinity so
addiction treatment at like infinity so that I thank you that I want to lead
that I thank you that I want to lead
that I thank you that I want to lead with you today is that the barrier to
with you today is that the barrier to
with you today is that the barrier to ending HIV or not the longer critical
ending HIV or not the longer critical
ending HIV or not the longer critical they’re no longer medical instead but
they’re no longer medical instead but
they’re no longer medical instead but they are political social and if you’re
they are political social and if you’re
they are political social and if you’re able to fight again these barriers in
able to fight again these barriers in
able to fight again these barriers in the disbanding designers hopefully 25
the disbanding designers hopefully 25
the disbanding designers hopefully 25 years who knows there will let be none
years who knows there will let be none
years who knows there will let be none of us sitting here and there’ll be no
of us sitting here and there’ll be no
of us sitting here and there’ll be no speakers talking but the burden
”
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