Incarceration constitutes a risk for HIV, with limited innovations being implemented to improve the situation. Women represent an increasing percentage of new HIV cases. The number of new HIV infections among injection drug users is increasing dramatically, with Vancouver now having the highest reported rate in North America. The proportions of this public health crisis are not well understood by the public. Immediate action is required at all levels of governmental and community leadership.
Immediate action is required.
It is clear that with much work to be done and, given limited human and financial resources, we cannot do everything. The Task Force calls upon individuals, communities, non-governmental groups and governments to take responsibility for transforming this Plan from words into action. Our researchers and programmers have been prominent contributors to an increasing knowledge base in this area. We have an extensive network of needle exchange programmes. There is a widely dispersed base of community organizations which either already are, or could be, enlisted to respond.