AIDS Awareness Campaign Targets North

AIDS Awareness Campaign Targets North

Wednesday, July 23, 2003 at 14:52

 

 

 

A sexual health worker in Prince Albert says northern communities need more help in dealing with AIDS and hepatitis C.

 

Ken Ward has spent the past fifteen years organizing awareness campaigns and committees to deal with the two issues, and is also involved with the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network.

 

He says AIDS is having a devastating effect on Aboriginal women and teenagers.

 

He hopes to raise awareness of what can be done to reverse this trend, as well as give hope to drug addicts who have contracted the illness.

 

Ward says isolated communities in the North are often at a disadvantage due to a lack of funding and programs.

 

Ward notes AIDS awareness has come a long way in the past fifteen years, but realizes there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.

 

The new campaign, called “Spirit of the Heart”, officially kicks off next month.