Accepting AIDS/HIV Community Engagement Clinical Management Education Objectives Surveillance and Research

Accepting AIDS/HIV Community Engagement Clinical Management Education Objectives Surveillance and Research

Big River First Nation is located approximately 120 KM northwest of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and a population of 3500 people 2700 on reserve. Currently our Health District has the highest rates of HIV among the new diagnosed people in Canada and 80 percent of them are of Aboriginal Ancestry; therefore many of the health region clients come from Big River First Nation and the surrounding First Nation communities.

The Know Your Status project was started 2011 as a pilot project with Health Canada. Health Canada come in and gave us one full time nurse to work with and a portable lab to do the testing. We knew that we had HIV clients in community but what we were not prepared for is the amount of clients we would have and no support services as in : mental health, addictions, clinical support, and most serious is lack of health professional that specialize in HIV Aids and Hep C. The project itself small part of the bigger problem of addictions and poverty.

With the assistance of Chief Bruce Morin, Band Council members, elders, community based programs, and urban services we try to provide adequate support that is offered to the HIV Aids clients and families that are also affected by this virus. Families are encouraged to be a part of the treatment plans.

The Know Yours Status program is housed within the Big River First Nation and functions support, clinicalmedical and advisory services to membership and the surrounding communities. The goal of the Know Your Status Project is primarily provide holistic strength to clients and their families.

Building Partnerships Big River had to go to Province to enhance services in the Know Your Status Project Saskatchewan has two funding agencies Federal Funding for First Nation People and Provincial for general population. The HIV/AIDS virus has no boundaries why should we

Positive outcomes : Know Your Status Project What makes this project unique and successful is that the program is community based, community driven, and community developed by working with many different partners that provide the treatment within the boundaries of our First Nation. Membership comes in to get tested without fear of discrimination and willing to know their own status of health. HIV and Hep C clients no longer feel alone; we have peer groups and come to the Health Center without fear or the feeling of isolation from the community. our clients feel safe and not alone in their battle against the HIV virus

Client centered model clients receive treatment in the community and they are given an opportunity to be a part of their own treatment plan. We also encourage them to be a part of the prevention and intervention program of the HIV/Hep C project by using their illness as an educational tool for the youth. On many occasions the clients are our main guest speakers at training sessions. By using our own people at training we get a greater response from the youth and also encourage the client to the journey to the path of wellness.

HIV/Hep C is looked at as any chronic illness without stigma and discrimination; therefore clients and the families feel safe in community. We don t see many discarded syringes all over the community as a result of the Harm Reduction Program. Cell phone program all our diagnosed clients are given cell phone to be in touch with the health professionals at all times they are also given $25 gift cards monthly as an initiative to be a part of the program.

Nutrition program, our diagnosed clients are given food supplements when in treatment such as ensure/boost and good food boxes to insure that they are getting adequate meals when they are in treatment. Social Development also gives them additional money when and if they are in the welfare program. Our elders and healers also work with us closely by providing the clients with many hours of counselling services and family support. We had to work closely with Health Canada to promote the work that the elders do for our community. They provide spiritual counselling and yet they are not recognized as health care professional in their own right; we had to lobbying for their services in the know you status program now we have a counsel of 15 elders that provide this service to clientele. They have made a big contribution in this project by providing their wisdom and spiritual guidance.

Cultural appropriate services utilization of traditional teaching combining traditional and western medicines. Know Your Status Project has brought the community together to work towards a common goal, which is to provide the clientele safety and by making this project shared responsibility for the membership partners, and the surrounding communities. Eliminate Provincial and Federal jurisdiction issues by developing partners with both governments. HIV/Hep C has no boundaries and Government shouldn t either when it comes to health care for people.