Message from the Executive Director

You may have heard in the news recently that the BC Government and the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS announced a $48 million Seek and Treat initiative.

Research shows that when a person is consistently on HIV treatment resulting in an undetectable level of the HIV virus, there is a very, very low risk of HIV transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed combination prevention – condoms, clean needles, HIV treatment – as having the potential to pretty much halt HIV transmission globally. British Columbia is leading the way.

Imagine! Your support of the Dr. Peter Centre is providing both excellent care and helping stem the tide of HIV/AIDS. The Dr. Peter Centre is steeped in the combination prevention approach. As part of an integrated health model, we provide free condoms and promote safe sex; provide clean needles, sterile equipment, and injection space with zero risk of needle sharing and unsafe disposal of dirty needles; and provide HIV medication storage and support. We are collaborating with those managing Seek and Treat funding so we can extend our support to many others.  

Which brings me to data – Thanks to a generous donor bequest, we have been able to add a second phase to our Electronic Client Record System to improve our data capacity. We have just signed a partnership agreement with the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS so we can fully engage in the data analysis needed for Seek and Treat. The system will also improve our ability to monitor, evaluate, and improve the quality and performance of our services.

Until there’s a cure…