Grant: Operating Grant

The global health community continues to struggle to lower the number of new cases of HIV. Although the prevention and control of HIV should be relatively straightforward, it has proven to be anything but. Despite having all the tools necessary to stop the spread of disease, those populations most vulnerable to HIV continue to suffer from a lack of access to testing and treatment. The issue largely comes down to marginalization; those individuals most at risk of HIV, tend to be those who are most marginalized in society and have the poorest access to and ability to find health care resources and services. Therefore, HIV prevention does not necessarily need new or better diagnostic or treatment options, rather, the degree of marginalization of those populations most vulnerable to disease must be reduced, such that they are aware of and can take advantage of the services available. In this proposal we use the latest technological innovations in eHealth approaches to health promotion to better bridge the gap between marginalized populations and health care providers. The work will take place in Canada, Colombia, and Kenya.