[ Ron Chalmers, Journal Staff Writer | Edmonton Journal ]
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More than 200 people walked five kilometres Sunday to raise awareness of preventing and treating HIV and AIDS.
The annual Walk for Life was meant to remind people that HIV/AIDS is still an issue in Edmonton, said Coun. Michael Phair.
"People still are becoming ill and dying."
Phair hopes the event will stimulate individual donations and government funding to non-profit organizations that deal with HIV or AIDS in Edmonton.
Many walkers were sponsored by friends who pledged donations to the HIV Edmonton and Living Positive groups.
The riskiness of behaviours such as unprotected sex and needle-sharing must continually be publicized to new audiences of young people and recent immigrants, Phair said. "We must ensure that people don't forget."
Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, in a rally at City Hall before the walk, told the crowd that the federal government has promised to double its annual support of HIV/AIDS programs from $42.2 million to $84.4 million, over five years.
The increase during the current year would be $5 million, she said in an interview. Most of the money would be allocated to the existing network of community-based organizations, she said.
Sherry McKibben, executive director of the HIV Network of Edmonton Society, said McLellan has promised this for two years, but her government has not delivered.
"I had a staff of 14 people three years ago, and now I'm down to eight people," McKibben said.
"I laid off one staff person this week and, without more money, I will have to lay off another person."
McLellan said the increase was announced after the current budget was set.
"I would hope the Treasury Board would approve it by the end of October, but that's not my call."
Several organizations distributed information inside City Hall explaning how HIV is transmitted and where to get help--or training as HIV educators.
"We want to reach out to all populations that are infected," said Jim Kane, chairman of Living Positive.
Chantal Londji Dang, of the Madeleine Sanam Foundation, said she teaches African Canadians about the risk of "unfaithful men infecting faithful women."
Any man with several sex partners will have a higher risk of acquiring and transmitting an HIV infection, she said.
"We teach about HIV, but then we also look at the social factors of status, income, gender and health access."
A woman's social and economic situation can increase her dependency upon a man--and her health risk, Dang said.
"We want to empower women to be less dependent."
Trinity Lacroix, of the HIV Network of Edmonton Society, said some of the First Nations and Inuit people in Edmonton may need information that they did not receive in their home communities.
Gil Charest displayed a colourful "Living Quilt" decorated with ribbons from 145 Edmonton residents who have been living with HIV or AIDS for up to 24 years--spreading the word the people can survive with HIV.
An array of pharmaceuticals now can attach the HIV virus at various stages of its replication, Charest siad. Patients also can help themselves by eating well, exercising regularly and avoiding tobacco and non-medicinal drugs.
The positive message is importnt, Kane agreed. His group gives factual information to people with HIV and AIDS and gives peer support through other people in the same situation.
The AIDS Walk for Life is being held in 128 sites across Canada, from Sept. 19 to Sept. 26.
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