HIV rates in the Northern Health Region have been increasing.

That’s why NHR Medical Officer of Health Dr. Michael Isaac is raising awareness this World AIDS Day. He’ll be speaking at a luncheon and awareness walk today.

He says despite a slight increase, the number of cases in the region remain relatively low:

"We bounce around. We have small numbers in our region, generally somewhere between 1 and 15 cases a year, over the past 10 years. When we look at a trend over time, or a rate over time, it does look like our rates are increasing in the north so we know it is becoming a bit more of an issue for us here in the  Northern Health Region". 

Mayor Dennis Fenske has proclaimed today as World AIDS Day in the City of Thompson.

The luncheon and walk starts at 11:30am at the TRCC.