Wellness Wheel, a non-profit, outlined two projects to increase the number of people tested for HIV, Hepatitis C and other illnesses. The first is the development of the free ‘Get Tested’ guide, created after consultations with communities to provides materials to help plan and hold local awareness events about testing and treatment. The other, a pharmacy testing pilot project, is the first of its kind in Saskatchewan. It includes working with a Regina pharmacy to offer HIV testing. For the project, pharmacists were trained to offer HIV point-of-care screening using a finger stick to take a sample of blood and get a result within 60 to 90 seconds. The province recently introduced more funding to support HIV treatment. Its 2018 budget included an additional $700,000 to ensure universal 100% coverage of HIV drugs and to provide HIV supports.
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Innovation is key to broaden our approach to tackle the HIV crisis in Saskatchewan - Leader-Post
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