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Call for Inuit-specific AIDS terminology

Casey Lessard
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 5, 2011

NUNAVUT
An Inuit women's organization is calling for consistent HIV and AIDS terminology in Inuktitut dialects as Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week comes to a close.

"HIV is a new challenge in our landscape," Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada president Elisapee Sheutiapik said in a release in advance of hosting the Tukisiviit Health Literacy Forum.

"We can name the HIV risks in our community and teach ourselves about ways to prevent infection and support people living with HIV."

A consistent promoter of Inuit-specific HIV/AIDS education, Pauktuutit was the organization that distributed condoms purporting to be country-food-flavoured (the condoms weren't actually flavoured, but the wrappers got a lot of attention) at the 2002 Arctic Winter Games in Iqaluit.

The Government of Nunavut recommends condom use to help prevent the spread of HIV, and provides free condoms at health centres across the territory.

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