AIDS Programs South Saskatchewan is a non-profit organization that has been supporting individuals affected by HIV/AIDS for over 27 years, providing various services such as needle exchange, counseling, and community support. The document explains HIV transmission, testing procedures, and highlights the importance of reducing stigma surrounding HIV. It also outlines the legal responsibilities of HIV-positive individuals regarding disclosure of their status and offers resources for those living with HIV in the region.

3. AIDS Programs South Saskatchewan is a
non profit organization serving southern
Saskatchewan. Our agency has been
around for over 27 years. We provide
programs and services to individuals
infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Our goal is to provide everyone with the
information and means to live
independently and with dignity.

4. On Site Programs & Services
 Needle Exchange Program & Drop In Centre
 Addictions Counsellor (Tuesday PM)
 Housing Support (Wednesday PM)
 Public Health Nurse (Thursday PM)
 Anyone At Risk Support Group (Thursday PM)
 Food Bank Referrals

5. Off Site Programs & Services
 Circle of Courage
 Education & Outreach
 Client Care for HIV+ Individuals
 Community Needle Pick Ups
 Peer Support for HIV+ individuals
 Counselling for HIV+ individuals

8. ANYONE can be at risk
for contracting HIV!
HIV does not discriminate. It’s not who you are that puts
you at risk, it’s what you do. Anyone can be infected with
HIV regardless of age, gender, economic back ground,
sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnic origin, etc.

10. Is HIV &
AIDS the
same?
No. HIV is the virus
that gets passed
from one body to
the other. AIDS is
the disease that
later develops in
people with HIV.

17. The
journey
of HIV
begins
with an
exposure!
Which bodily fluids
can carry the virus?
For an HIV exposure to
pose a risk of
transmission, specific
bodily fluids from an HIV+
person need to come into
direct contact with the
bodily fluids of an HIV-
person.

18. Only five
bodily
fluids can
contain
enough of
the virus to
transmit
 Blood (menstrual fluid)
 Semen (pre-cum)
 Vaginal Fluid
 Anal Fluid
 Breast Milk

19. HIV cannot be transmitted through:
 Spit/Saliva
 Tears
 Urine
 Sweat
 Insect Bites
 Animal Bites
 Bed Sheets & Towels
 Dishes & Cutlery
 Cuddling
 Sneezing
 Coughing
 Toilet Sheets
 Food
 Kissing
 Hugging
 Shaking Hands

20. HIV cannot survive in air or
water. The virus must reside in a
human host in order to survive!
For HIV to be passed between people, fluid must get from
one person’s body directly into the other. This means there
has to be an “entry point” for the fluid to enter the body.
Our skin is a very strong barrier against the HIV virus.

22. HIV can survive inside the
barrel of the needle because
it’s protected from the air.
HIV may survive for up to four weeks in syringes
after HIV-infected blood has been drawn up into
the syringe and then flushed out

24. The Transmission Equation
Body Fluid
(blood, semen (pre-cum), vaginal fluid, anal fluid or breast milk)
+
Direct Entry Point to the Blood System
(open cuts and sores, other mucus membranes, points of needle injection)
+
Activity
(unprotected sex, skin contact with needles, mother-to-baby transmission)
Possibility of Transmission

25. CD4 Cells
 CD4 cells are the “bosses”
of the immune system.
They organize the battle
against invading germs
and viruses.
 HIV prefers to take over
and multiply inside the
CD4 cell

26. Viral Load
The amount of HIV in the bodily fluids of
someone living with the virus.
What is an undetectable viral load?
If you’re on treatment, your viral load is a way to
know whether the medication is working. If your
treatment is successful, your viral load will fall to
“undetectable”—too low for tests to measure.
This doesn’t mean you’re cured or that the virus
is gone, but it does mean it’s under control.

27. What can
HIV
medication
do for me?
 Put the virus to sleep
 Decrease the amount of HIV in
the blood (viral load)
 Increase the white blood cells
(CD4 count)
 Allow the immune system to
rebuild
 Reduce risk of serious infections
and HIV symptoms

31. Why
Should
I Get
Tested?
Have you:
 Had anal or vaginal sex without a condom?
 Given or received oral sex?
 Used a needle that was used by someone else?
(for drugs, steroids, piercings, tattoos)
 Used drug tools that were used by someone
else? (pipes, straws, spoons, filters, water)
 Shared sex toys?
 Been born vaginally?
 Had a blood transfusion pre-1992?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions,
booking a test is just a phone call away.
There is no reason to feel shame or guilt by
answering 'yes' to any of these questions. Health
care providers are ready to support you at various
locations!

33. Standard Testing
 Blood drawn from a vein
 Sample is sent to a lab
 Results in two weeks

34. Point of Care or Rapid Test
 Blood sample from an individual’s finger
 Test takes 60 seconds
 A standard test will confirm the results

36. What if
I test
positive
for
HIV?
 You will be notified by a healthcare
professional
 Positive results are kept confidential
 You will be offered information and
supports
 Your current and past sexual/drug use
partners will be offered a test for HIV
 A public health nurse can discuss with
you the best way to tell your partners. If
you like, the nurse can inform them
without identifying you. The nurse can also
help you find ways to tell all future
partners

37. Who do I
have to
tell that I
am HIV+?
In Canada, it is illegal for HIV+ people to
have sex without disclosing their status, in
some cases even if they use a condom and
even if no one gets infected.
Trevis Smith was found guilty of aggravated
sexual assault in February 2007. A judge
found Smith had unprotected sex with two
women and did not tell them he was
infected with HIV. "He was charged with one
count of aggravated sexual assault,'' Searle
said, noting aggravated assault "is the
highest level of assault just short of death.
So for a sexual assault to be aggravated in
nature it would have to be extremely
serious.”

38. What if I
test
negative
for HIV?
Your health care provider will
talk with you about when
you should have your next
routine test. You may also
want to talk about ways to
help you stay negative.

41. Care and
Support for
HIV+
Individuals in
Southern
Saskatchewan

42. Infectious Disease Clinic
Regina General Hospital
Outpatient care for
patients in southern
Saskatchewan living
with HIV and
Hepatitis and other
complex infectious
diseases
306-766-3915
Multidisciplinary
team includes:
 Physicians
 Nurses
 Social Worker
 Pharmacist
 Dietitian

43. Peer Support
306-766-6857
Acute Peer-to-Peer Program is a valuable part of
the RQHR work to engage more people in HIV care and
to help those newly diagnosed manage some of the
daily challenges that come with living with HIV.
The mentors share their experiences with mentees and
support those who might be feeling isolated or
intimidated. When a mentee feels ready, he or she can
graduate from the program and move on to become a
mentor.

44. Client Care
306-924-8420
AIDS Programs South Saskatchewan Client Care
Coordinator works directly with people living with
HIV/AIDS. Working with individuals, they identify
personal needs and together design supportive plans.
This includes providing support on a one to one basis;
during home visits, hospital visits, social activities all
while meeting clients where they are at. She also assists
with transportation, attends appointments when
requested by clients and helps individuals who wish to
disclose their status do so.

46. Take A Guess:
Are the number of
people living HIV+
HIGH or LOW in
Saskatchewan?

53. Youngest individual
diagnosed with HIV
in 2012
14
Oldest individual
diagnosed with HIV
in 2012
78

54. Fueling the Epidemic:
HIV-Related Stigma &
Discrimination
HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination
refers to prejudice, negative attitudes, abuse &
maltreatment directed at people living with HIV
and AIDS.

55.  STIG·MA: a mark of shame or discredit; an identifying mark or
characteristic; specifically : a specific diagnostic sign of a
disease
 SOCIAL STIGMA: the extreme disapproval of, or discontent
with, a person on the grounds of characteristics that
distinguish them from other members of a society.
 HIV STIGMA: “HIV stigma” refers to the HIV-related shame,
fear, prejudice, discrimination, guilt, and lack of knowledge
that exist in the world at large. It affects the health and well-
being of both HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals.
Stigma and discrimination persists and many HIV-positive people
find that they are discriminated against on a daily basis.

56. Examples of Everyday Stigma
 Referring to HIV as “AIDS.”
 Presuming because someone is HIV-positive, they’re sick,
contagious, or dying.
 Believing HIV can be contracted by casual contact or kissing.
 Using the word “clean” when referring to a negative HIV
status
 Not getting tested for HIV for fear of a positive result
 Dismissing, judging, or rejecting someone who is HIV-positive
when they disclose their status.
 Trusting that every sexual partner will be honest in disclosing
their status.
 Perceiving HIV-positive people to be failures, promiscuous, or
that they “deserved” to become infected with HIV.
 Discussing someone’s HIV status, whether it is rumor or
factual, without their consent or knowledge.

58. External stigmatization refers to
stigmatization of other people or
by other people.
Some examples:
 Do not want to share dishes,
equipment or other objects with
them
 Do not want to touch them or
be close to them
 Do not want to spend time with
them
 Pressure them to leave their
home
 Pressure them to leave some
social setting
 Think it is their own fault for
contracting HIV
 Judge them as being “immoral”
or “irresponsible” or “sinful”

59. Internal stigmatization refers to
ways that people stigmatize
themselves.
Some examples:
 Are guilty or dirty
 Are a threat to other people’s
health
 Need to withdraw socially to
protect themselves
 Cannot have intimate
relations with someone else
 Must work harder than other
people in order to prove
themselves

64. Email: educationcoordinatorapss@sasktel.net
Facebook: AIDS Programs South Saskatchewan
Twitter: @aidsprograms
Instagram: @aidsprogramssouthsask
Questions, Comments or
Concerns?

65. http://www.mtv.ca/shows/losing-
it/video/extras/mtv-presents-being-
positive/1718266/0/0