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STI updates are blog posts from the BCCDC or our community partners about a variety of sexual health topics. These include program updates, clinical practice changes, new research, events, and more. We will not clutter your inbox with frequent emails, and your email address will not be used for any other purposes.
March 20, 2024 by Deb Schmitz, BC Hepatitis Network, Sofia Bartlett, BC Centre for Disease Control and Janice Duddy, Consultant.
The BC Viral Hepatitis Elimination Roadmap Service Mapping Survey has now launched. The Road map team is collecting responses to this survey until April 8th 2024, so please complete it as soon as possible, and forward this invitation to anyone else who you think may wish to complete it. Our ask from you If you are someone who works…
January 5, 2024 by Janice Duddy, Evaluator and Angela Knight, Program Lead, BC HIV POC Testing Program, BCCDC Public Health Laboratory
The BC Point-of-Care HIV Testing Program, has been operating at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) since 2011. It was established to increase access of HIV testing in BC under the BC Ministry of Health’s Hope to Health: Towards an AIDS-Free Generation provincial strategy. The program provides point-of-care tests and supplies, free-of-charge to approved…
August 22, 2023 by Vancouver Sex Work Community Alliance
The Vancouver Sex Work Community Alliance is a partnership between the Health Initiative for Men and the Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, aimed at increasing the wellbeing of sex workers of all genders and promoting their access to healthcare across the Lower Mainland. To do this, we combine research, education, advocacy, and outreach…
October 25, 2021 by Sofia Bartlett, Senior Scientist, Clinical Prevention Services, BCCDC
The Annual BC Liver Forum will take place at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on November 30 and December 1, 2021. The 9th Annual Liver Forum is free to attend, and will be a hybrid meeting which will include in-person sessions, alongside a simultaneous live online stream for those who prefer to participate virtually. The in-person…
October 14, 2021 by Kiran Parmar, Research Assistant and Heather Noga, Research Program Manager at the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Laboratory, University of British Columbia
Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition where tissue, similar to the endometrial lining, starts growing outside of the uterus. Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and an unmeasured number of gender diverse people. Common symptoms include pelvic pain during menstruation, chronic pelvic pain, pain with bowel movements and urination, reduced fertility and abnormal bleeding. Deep dyspareunia,…
July 8, 2021 by Terri Buller-Taylor, Research Manager, Hepatitis Education Canada Hepatitis, Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control
Chronic hepatitis C infection is a leading cause of liver-related illness and death. Liver disease and cirrhosis cause more deaths in Canada than HIV. Other Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBIs) can lead to serious health complications and, for people who are pregnant, infectious syphilis can be passed on to their infant and can lead…
May 21, 2021 by Monica Durigon on behalf of the University of British Columbia's Continuing Professional Development program (UBC CPD)
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in partnership with The University of British Columbia’s Continuing Professional Development program (UBC CPD) are conducting focus groups to inform the development of a new online course on sexually transmitted and & bloodborne Infections (STIBBI) barriers to testing. They’re recruiting physicians, nurses and people who access STIBBI care from…
February 12, 2021 by Tessa Lawson Tattersall, Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control
Background The number of syphilis cases in British Columbia (BC) is increasing significantly, and has reached the highest rate of infection seen in over 30 years. This is echoed by Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer who has said that alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, we are “still in the midst of an outbreak of syphilis…
January 25, 2021 by Sarah Watt, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
Collaborators at the Health Initiative for Men, the Community-Based Research Centre, and Simon Fraser University have developed and launched MindMapBC. MindMapBC is an online database of accessible, free or low-cost, and/or LGBTQ2+-affirming mental health supports. Experiences of stigma, discrimination, and marginalization among LGBTQ2+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-, queer, Two-Spirit, and other gender- and sexually-diverse) people…
March 18, 2020 by Balanding Manneh, University of British Columbia MPH Candidate
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is conducting a survey of stakeholders involved in Hepatitis C (HCV) treatment and related services in British Columbia (BC). The 5-10 minute survey can be completed by anyone familiar with HCV-related services (treatment, care and support services) in BC, including people with lived experience. It will yield a…