How Health Care Providers Can Respond to Manitoba’s HIV Public Health Emergency

Manitoba has the highest rate of HIV in Canada. In May, Public Health officials with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care declared a public health emergency to combat the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

The Manitoba HIV Program is highlighting key information about the pathway to care, as well as the services and resources it provides.

Here’s how you can help*:  

• Offer pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for eligible patients in your care. 
• When testing for one sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI), test for all. 
• Normalize HIV testing and know the HIV-STBBI status of all patients in your care. If your patient is having condomless sex with new, anonymous or multiple partners OR is a person who injects drugs AND has not been tested in the last 3-6 months, recommend testing. Additional risk based and clinical indications to guide testing frequency can be found in the MB HIV Program Testing Guidelines.
• If your patient’s test is positive for HIV: 
  • Notify your patient as soon as possible after diagnosis 
  • Refer your patient to the Manitoba HIV Program by fax using the Manitoba HIV Program Referral Form 
  • Provide your patient with education
    • Reinforce that when HIV is undetectable, it is sexually untransmittable (U=U) 
  • Conduct a baseline medical assessment 
• If you are caring for a patient who is not connecting for HIV care or if you have urgent clinical concerns, consult the MB HIV Program:
  • 1-866-449-0165
  • TigerConnect the “MB HIV Program Team”
  • eConsult
  • Fax: 204-318-3181 

Download & print: what you can do to help

*Understand the historic and current context of Indigenous Peoples living with HIV and increase your knowledge of culturally safe care. 

A good way to gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous history, culture, and the impacts of racism and discrimination is through one of CPSM’s pre-approved cultural safety trainings, including We Will Take Good Care of the People.

This education is mandatory for all registrants to create a culturally safe practice environment for all patients and must be completed by October 31, 2027. Learn more about the mandatory training.