A new national research program is distributing 50,000 free HIV self-testing kits across Canada to reach people who are undiagnosed and connect them to care. The goal is to identify barriers to testing and treatment and ultimately help end Canada’s HIV epidemic.
Launching June 2 with an online event featuring Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam, the I’m Ready program is available through an anonymous website and mobile app. Participants can order a fast, reliable HIV self-test and access a telehealth-style navigation service for support, prevention information, and links to care.
Researchers will track in real time how effectively the program reaches people and supports access to testing, treatment, and ongoing care. These insights will help adapt the program to ensure low-barrier testing options across the country. An estimated 8,000 Canadians are living with undiagnosed HIV, with disproportionate impacts on men who have sex with men, African, Caribbean and other Black communities, Indigenous Peoples, and people who use or inject drugs.
“We now have all the tools we need to end HIV,” said Dr. Sean B. Rourke, principal investigator and scientist at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions. “I’m Ready uses technology to expand access and choice for communities marginalized by systemic racism, colonial harms, stigma, and discrimination.”
Read the full story at Unity Health Toronto
