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Laurie in Question Period

Blood-borne and Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Questions asked in the 26th Legislature of Alberta, 3rd Session by Ms. Laurie Blakeman, Alberta Liberal MLA for Edmonton-Centre, Shadow Cabinet Minister for Health and Wellness

Alberta Hansard December 3, 2007

Ms Blakeman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the past four years rates of HIV have been increasing, and for those same four years the government has refused to release the blood-borne pathogen and sexually transmitted infections strategy that would address these issues. My questions are to the minister of health. Why has it taken more than four years to approve this report?

Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, that’s a very good question and one that I don’t have a very good answer for. I have met with the chair of the committee and am very interested in the report and where it got hung up in terms of the process. I’ve been working on how we could bring that forward. It’s a very important issue. We are seeing an increase in infectious diseases and sexually transmitted diseases in the province, and it’s important that we address those issues. What I’m looking at is to see whether the strategies need to be updated so we can bring them forward on a timely basis. I’m not sure why the report didn’t come forward at the time it was created. I wasn’t aware of it at the time, but I’m certainly working actively on it now.

Ms Blakeman: So we could have it updated before it’s actually been released.

All right. To the same minister. There has also been a rise in sexual transmission of HIV as 73 per cent of infections in 2005 were sexually transmitted. Is there another plan to reduce HIV rates, or will the minister finally approve and implement this strategy?

Mr. Hancock: Well, as I said, Mr. Speaker, I think the prudent course of action is to look at the strategy that was presented in the context of today’s information and determine whether it’s still the most effective strategy or whether another strategy would be more effective. That’s what we’re in the process of doing.

Ms Blakeman: Well, okay. To the same minister, then. Capital health’s medical officer of health pointed out that this region has become the STD capital of Canada. What preventive action is the minister taking in the meantime to reduce the risk for Albertans?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mr. Hancock: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I should reference that the comment that the hon. member is referring to was made during a forum on public health that was located at the university. That is one of the strategies that’s very important, that we talk about public health issues and that we not be afraid to talk about those public health issues in public and raise awareness levels. It’s very important that we raise awareness. We in fact issued a news release and made a public statement in the fall about the prevalence of sexually transmitted disease and the concerns. If I remember correctly, I made a statement in the House on that. I think it was earlier in the spring.

The first and most important thing is to raise awareness of the issue. Secondly, the provincial lab is gearing up to be able to do more testing to make sure that people know how they can deal with it themselves, but it’s important that we bring a strategy forward.