Photo courtesy of allnationshope.ca
A Saskatchewan HIV/Aids organization is one of many expected to be denied funding by the federal government.
On Monday, it was revealed the Public Heath Agency of Canada (PHAC) had denied or cut back funding requests of several HIV/AIDS organizations historically supported. Some of the organizations had been receiving funding for over ten years.
According to comments from the Public Health Agency, the change is about new ways to approach HIV/AIDS in the country.
Among those denied funding is the All Nations AIDS Hope Network, which is based out of Regina.
The organization’s CEO, Margaret Poitras, says about 70 per cent of their operational funding will be lost.
“All Nations Hope has been in existence in Saskatchewan since 1995, so the loss of funding would be detrimental to our agency, so we were quite shocked,” said Poitras.
All Nations Hope is a not-for-profit organization devoted to providing the physical, spiritual and social needs for Indigenous people living with HIV and Hepatitis C.
The organization is one of many denied funding across the country. Among the others facing cuts is the Canadian Aboriginal Aids Network (CAAN), who is expected to see a two-thirds reduction. CAAN is speaking out against the funding changes.
“We want to hold the process accountable in order to ensure and create wellness opportunities for all Indigenous peoples engaged with he health system,” said the organization’s CEO, Ken Clement in a news release. “Supporting our Indigenous community is pivotal to turning the tide of this growing epidemic, now more than ever.”
According to information obtained by the Toronto Star, the Public Heath Agency says they received 224 project submissions for funding from the PHAC’s $26.4 million dollar Hepatitis C Community Action Fund. 124 organizations were invited to submit full proposals, while 42 were not recommended for future consideration.
For Margaret Poitras and All Nations Hope, being denied funding will mean changes.
“We’ve got four staff who are operationally funded through the Public Health Agency of Canada, so that means cuts,” said Poitras.
In her view, the process undertaken by the government was not fair.
“I feel for my colleagues across the nation and I feel for All Nations Hope,” she said.
However, Poitras says this isn’t the end for the All Nations Hope Network. She says over the past years the organization has branched into other areas other than just treating the sickness caused by HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. She says they are a wellness first organization.
“I am very confident we will come through in a good way,” she said. “The Creator will take care of us. All Nation Hope will continue to focus on wellness and not sickness going forward.”
“We put too much thought on the Public Health Agency of Canada taking care of us,” said Poitras. “As Indigenous people we shouldn’t rely on the government taking care of us, we should take care of one another — now I am not sure how that looks, but I am willing to be patient and see how that unfolds in Saskatchewan.”