Provincial HIV/AIDS awareness flag unveiled for first time in SK
- EFN Staff | November 24, 2017
AIDS Saskatchewan and community partners across the province have created the Saskatchewan Provincial HIV Awareness Flag for the first time in Saskatchewan. The flag raising will kick off the AIDS Awareness Week on November 27 to December 1st.
Jason Mercredi, AIDS Saskatoon’s Executive Director, said they wanted a rallying symbol for the community to get involved and raise awareness.
“That is why the design is uniquely Saskatchewan. We choose the tiger lily, because one was planted outside our Drop-In by a person living with HIV,” said Mercredi in a media release.
Katelyn Roberts, Executive Director of Sanctum Care Group, underlines the need for awareness by stating Saskatchewan is faced with the highest rates of HIV and AIDS in the country – three times the national average. Roberts added that Saskatchewan has the highest rates of HIV related deaths in North America.
Margaret Poitras, the CEO of All Nations Hope Network (ANHN), said the importance of remembering to continue doing reconciliation and awareness work in all SK communities as “any successful response in HIV in Saskatchewan must be led by the affected communities because they are the true HIV experts.”
Cheryl Barton, President of the Persons Living with AIDS Network of Saskatchewan (PLWA), also commented that this flag represents a strengthening of their collective voice, bringing service providers together in the fight again HIV and AIDS in the Saskatchewan communities.
Stephanie Milla, AIDS Program South Saskatchewan’s (APSS) Executive Director, emphasizes the need for Saskatchewan to get involved.
“We raise awareness to get peoples’ attention and get them talking about the issue,” she said.
The Saskatchewan Provincial HIV Awareness Flag raising for Saskatoon will be taken place at the Civic Square at noon on November 27th, 2017. On December 1st, the Saskatchewan Legislature Prince of Whales Entrance in Regina will raise their flag starting at 10am along with the Meadow Lake Tribal Council – Clearwater River Dene Nation.