CBRC marks World Aids Day by giving out 15 thousand HIV Self-test kits

By Daniel Itai

The Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) is set to distribute 15 000 HIV Self-Test kits throughout British Columbia (BC) and Canada.

According to CBRC, the move to distribute the 15 000 HIV Self-Test kits is a way of increasing awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS, as the world marks World AIDS day on the 1st of every December.

“Testing is key to HIV prevention efforts, and the recent availability of HIV Self-Testing kits in Canada has the potential to reach more 2SLGBTQIA+ people living with undiagnosed HIV and link them to treatment and care, so that they can achieve an undetectable viral load, meaning they cannot pass HIV on to others.

Through a partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada, dozens of community-based organizations, and queer- and trans-owned businesses, we will be providing 15 000 HIV Self-Test kits to queer and trans folks in Canada, through three programs designed to remove common barriers to testing,” said Brook Biggin, CBRC’s Interim Executive Director..

The distribution of the 15 000 HIV Self-Test kits will be accomplished through three programs: Test Now, Test at Home and the Medicine Bundle.

Test Now, provides free HIV Self-Test kits to 2SLGBTQIA+ persons through a network of dozens of community-based organizations and venues across the country. These kits will allow people to access HIV testing where they want, when they want, and in a private and confidential setting. This reduces common barriers to traditional forms of HIV testing, empowering more people to know their status. Test Now will also be making HIV Self-Test kits available to dozens of 2SLGBTQIA+ owned or friendly businesses such as bars, bathhouses and bookstores across Canada to distribute.

Test at Home provides free HIV Self-Test kits by mail to 2SLGBTQIA+ persons anywhere in Canada. People can request up to four kits, which will be sent in discreet packaging from the CBRC and people can use this service as many times as they like.

The Medicine Bundle is designed by and for Two-Spirit and queer Indigenous people, however, CBRC’s Two-Spirit Team will provide a special Medicine Bundle in BC.

The bundle includes various Indigenous medicines such as sage, sweetgrass, tobacco, cedar and lavender, amongst others, a HIV Self-Test kit, and additional sexual health resources. The purpose of this bundle is to bring the sacredness back into sex and give people access to a holistic approach to one’s sexual health needs.