Grant: CIHR Journalism Award

There are numbers in health files showing a growing number of sexually transmitted infections and cases of HIV in certain geographic hotspots across Saskatchewan. In Prince Albert Parkland Health Region alone, local numbers for 2010 case-tracking of syphilis reach nearly 65, however official statistics shows fewer than 20 confirmed cases as of the end of August. There is a disconnect between information on the ground and what is disseminated. Policies around these communicable diseases seem to be slow in developing. I propose to complete a series of investigative pieces for radio and a news website about the increases of STIs and HIV in Northern Saskatchewan, why they have risen and their effects. Funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Tier 2 Award, will allow me to undertake this project. The research project will shed light on the disconnect between programming and statistics using data and interviews with public health officials, community members and researchers. It will provide information to policy makers and the public to increase conversation and eventually to curb the growing number of STI and HIV cases in Northern Saskatchewan.