VIHA blasted for plan to cut local region's AIDS funding

Politicians are united against VIHA's plan to cut south-Island funding and move it north

Lindsay Kines, Times Colonist, 24 September 2007

Victoria politicians slammed the Vancouver Island Health Authority yesterday for contemplating a 30-per-cent budget cut next year to AIDS agencies serving the south Island.

As about 40 people gathered to march from the legislature to Victoria City Hall in the annual AIDS Walk for Life, Liberal MP Keith Martin, NDP MP Denise Savoie, NDP MLA Rob Fleming and Victoria city Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe united in their criticism of VIHA's proposal to take money from HIV/AIDS programs on southern Vancouver Island to enhance mid- and north-Island services.

VIHA scrapped the plan this year in the face of widespread criticism, but president and chief executive officer Howard Waldner acknowledged yesterday that it could resurface in 2008.

"That discussion has taken place, and we certainly have told people that it's likely that is something that we might do," he said.

Waldner said people living up-Island have never received the same level of AIDS services as those in the south, even as the demand there has grown.

Still, Waldner wants to look at the overall budget before making a final decision on whether to shift resources from one region to another, he said.

"I'm actually quite encouraged that as we sit down with government, we will get a significant uplift in our health budget," he said.

Martin said any plans to shift money from one region to another would be like "robbing Peter to pay Paul."

He said VIHA and the B.C. government should invest new money in AIDS/HIV programs up-Island, particularly when the province has a budget surplus and any investment in prevention services will save health-care money in the future.

About 40 people gathered at the legislature yesterday morning for the annual AIDS Walk for Life in support for those living with HIV/AIDS and to raise awareness of the disease. Photograph by : Bruce Stotesbury, Times Colonist

Thornton-Joe agreed.

"To take it from one community to move to another community, I don't think that benefits anyone," she said.

In a speech on the steps of the legislature, Fleming noted the proposed cuts come at a time when people continue to become infected with HIV.

"It's important that we not allow the decision-makers who work here to ignore the fact that the fight against AIDS is not won, and that the fight against AIDS must be renewed," he said.

While the rate of new HIV infections fell provincewide in 2006, it increased on southern and northern Vancouver Island, according to B.C. Centre for Disease Control statistics.

On southern Vancouver Island, the rate jumped from nine new cases for every 100,000 people to 10.8 -- the third-highest rate of new HIV infections in the province.

On northern Vancouver Island, the rate more than doubled from 1.7 for every 100,000 people to 4.1.

Karen Dennis of the Victoria AIDS Resource and Community Service said nobody disputes the need for more services up-Island.

"They definitely need money and services too," she said. "However, they need to find new money for that and not take it from our little budgets."

Other agencies that risk losing money under the plan are Vancouver Island Persons With AIDS Society and AIDS Vancouver Island. AVI operates the much-criticized needle exchange on Cormorant Street, where drug users loiter, openly shoot up and damage private property.

Dennis said any cuts would exacerbate Victoria's inner-city problems.

"You can't turn on the news without seeing the drug-using and the open drug-use and the crime and the feel of the downtown core," she said. "And that's just the drug-using population. If we can't provide proper drop-ins and needle exchange and treatment and housing, that's just going to continue to get worse."

People with HIV/AIDS who don't use drugs also will become more isolated, Dennis said. "Instead of using our respite home, [they] will have to go to the hospital. And instead of having our drivers take them to their medical appointments or to emergency, they'll put more pressure on the health care system."