New data from Statistics Canada is prompting the Saskatchewan NDP to push for action regarding the province’s HIV rates.

According to the data, Saskatchewan’s HIV rate sits at 18.6 cases per every 100,000 people as of 2024. The national average is 5.5 cases.

Health Critic Vicki Mowat is urging the Province to follow in Manitoba’s footsteps and treat the local HIV crisis with the seriousness it deserves. Last week, Manitoba, where HIV cases are the highest in the country at 19.5 cases per 100,000 population, declared a state of emergency.

“Here in Saskatchewan, the government’s response has been fragmented inconsistent, and far to slow for the scale of the cris.”

A release from the NDP says a bipartisan working committee would be able to examine prevention strategies, explore ways to expand access to testing and treatment, improve public education, strengthen culturally appropriate care, and address the social and economic factors contributing to the spread of HIV.

“Behind every number is a person-someone’s child, parent, sibling or friend. Every delay in action means putting more lives at risk and more families impacted.”