HIV and STI international screening week starts Monday [Video]

Access to screening for HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) is still difficult in Quebec and elsewhere in the world. International Screening Week, which starts on Monday, advocates better access and encourages people at risk to go and get tested.

The international campaign promotes screening for HIV, hepatitis and STIs, and reaches some 50 countries. It was launched in 2020 due to delays in the number of tests carried out worldwide during the COVID-19 epidemic.

The Coalition des organismes communautaires québécois de lutte contre le sida (COCQ-SIDA) is taking part in this initiative for a fourth year. The goal is to raise awareness among Quebecers of the importance of screening.

“We don’t pretend that in one week we’ll find everyone with an undetected case of HIV, but we do want to show that it can be done,” said COCQ-SIDA Executive Director Ken Monteith. He wants to send …