Promising new drug helps prevent spread of HIV » Canadian study finds usage greatly reduces risk Cazzy Lewchuk Staff Writer PrEP (pre-exposure Avpronhtanis) drug witha brand name of Truvada has been found to greatly reduce the risk of HIV transmission in a new joint study between Quebec and France. The pill is currently only covered under federal health care as a treatment for HIV-positive patients. Although doctors are able to prescribe the drug for preventative purposes at their discretion, such usage is not covered under common medical insurance, and it is not a common practice to do so. The study identified 400 subjects at high risk for catching HIV—in this case study, men who had unprotected anal sex with multiple partners. Half of the subjects administered Truvada and the other half a placebo before and after having sex—after 6 months, 14 men in the placebo group had contracted HIV, compared to 2 whom had taken Truvada. This showed an 86 per cent decline in HIV infection. Previous studies conducted have : reached a similar conclusion. Truvada’s role in combating : the spread of HIV is still being : studied, but part of its limitations : : involve the cost. Truvada’s market : : cost is close to $900 a month— : particularly inaccessible to : patients without private health : insurance. This contributes : to doctors’ reluctance or even : unawareness of prescribing : the medication, particularly : with patients who are at risk : but not yet HIV-positive. Dr. Darrell Tan, a specialist : in infectious diseases, provided : a media statement about the : drug: “The challenge is, there’s : onlya limited impact you can : have when an evidence-based : intervention cannot be accessed : by the people who need it most.” : Other factors limiting the success : include frequency of dosage, : as patients in the latest study : took about 15 pills a month, and : it is recommended that high- : risk patients use the drug every : day. Side effects of Truvada can : include gastrointestinal rupture : and kidney failure, so users must : adhere to a schedule and regular : testing to remain healthy. Health Canada is currently : reviewing an application to : approve Truvada for specific HIV prevention. Applications can take up to a year to be approved. : The potential for curbing HIV’s : spread through Truvada is seen : as an exciting possibility if its : limitations can be overcome. : Tan further explained: “This is a : primary prevention intervention : that belongs in primary care : at the most basic levels of our : health-care system, not at : the level of highly specialized : academic physicians.’ Truvada’s effectiveness and : prevention is still being studied : amongst those who benefit or : would benefit from its usage, : primarily amongst homosexual : men. Further studies are needed : to test effectiveness in reducing : HIV for other at-risk behaviours, : such as heterosexual sex or : intravenous drug usage. An estimated 75,500 : people in Canada have HIV. : Further estimates suggest : that one in five of these : people—just over 16,000—are : unaware they have the virus. Image via thinkstock Communities come together to help incoming refugees » A highlight of the efforts made by current Canadians to help new Canadians Mercedes Deutscher News Editor M news@theotherpress.ca elina Prevost, a mother from Coquitlam, is making an effort : towards helping Syrian refugee children feel welcome in their new home, through customized dolls and teddy bears. “Td love to be there when they get to a shelter, or show up once they land at the airport,” Prevost said to The Huffington Post. “Just something for them to hold as soon as possible.” Prevost is one of many Canadians working to help the masses of Syrian refugees expected to enter Canada by February 2016. Knitters have been working across the country to create large amounts of “Izzy Dolls,” a doll design created by Carol Isfeld as tribute to her son, Master Cpl. Mark “Izzy” Isfeld, who lost his life in a mission to the Balkans in 1994. Mark had once described a scene to his mother of how he had seen a doll left behind by a child who had fled in fear. Although the project has been gaining traction since Mark’s death over 20 years ago, there has been a higher demand for knitters to contribute : : and counselling for individuals —: : and families settling into Canada, : because of the large number of refugee children incoming. The government is encouraging Canadians to donate : > towards refugee sponsorship, : with a promise of matching the : donations up until $100 million : is reached by the public. Within BC, the Immigrant : Services Society of British Columbia is providing support : hoping to ease the minds of those : : who have gone through traumatic : : organize welcoming ceremonies : society also provides employment : : counselling and coordinates local : donations of cash and items. experiences within Syria. The The Muslim Food Bank has : been collecting food donations : for the refugees, in addition to : offering to help the new refugees : find housing and employment. Aside from counselling and donations, Canadians have been coming together to to help the refugees feel more : welcome and accepted into a : new society. Children are also : being encouraged to participate, : with many creating homemade : cards with kind messages. Language educators are : working together to create : “ : Bae : : “conversation cafes,” which Image via www.care.org/ : will help the refugees pick : up English or French. Other : educators are stepping in to : help Syrian children get caught : up in other school subjects, : since many have fallen behind : due to displacement. “These groups are always looking for volunteers,” said Hugh : Brewster of Word Vision Canada : to CTV. “..All of them have ways : that volunteers can contribute.”