Okanagan agencies benefiting from federal investments in addressing HIV, Hep C

Two Interior-based projects aimed at addressing HIV, Hepatitis C, and other blood-borne illnesses are benefiting from a federal investment.

Through the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund, the federal government is supporting projects organized by Living Positive Resource Centre in Kelowna and OneSky Community Resources Society in Penticton.

The Kelowna-based organization will receive $284,236 for its Men’s Health Initiative Program.

This project is intended to increase healthy connections and develop community resources and initiatives for men who have sex with other men throughout the Interior. The program will provide holistic services to improve mental, physical and emotional health, as well as address and reduce existing barriers.

OneSky in Penticton will receive $506,052 for a Shared Care and Peer Supports to Improve Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment project.

This program would involve community partners establishing peer supports in a community health centre’s shared care team to improve access to prevention, testing, treatment and ongoing care for people living with or have lived experience of HIV and/or Hepatitis C.

The local projects are among 16 throughout B.C. receiving a combined $12.6-million for projects to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of preventing these infections, with the goal of ending viral blood-borne infections as public health threats.