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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Alberta announces recipients of syphilis education and prevention grant

Dec 13, 2023 | 1:53 PM

EDMONTON – The Alberta government shared Wednesday that several organizations are now benefiting from the launch of a syphilis grant program which aims to provide community-based organizations with funding to help treat and prevent the disease.

Like other jurisdictions, Alberta has seen a rapid rise in infectious syphilis over the last decade, leading to a provincial outbreak being declared in 2019.

In 2022, reported rates of infectious syphilis increased in all AHS zones except Edmonton Zone.

Syphilis can severely damage one’s heart, brain or other organs, and can be life-threatening — but it’s also a treatable disease and is preventable through education.

The new grant program is called Syphilis Outbreak Action Response, known as SOAR, and launched earlier this year, the province said.

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Health Minister Adriana LaGrane said the government is focused on bringing down the syphilis rates.

“We must take targeted action to address syphilis rates in our province,” LaGrange said.

“By funding key partners that already work with vulnerable individuals and communities, we can slow the spread of syphilis and ensure appropriate services and care are accessible.”

Following the launch of the grant program, eligible community-based organizations, including Indigenous organizations, were invited to submit their proposals. Eight organizations have been selected:

• Community-Based Research Centre Society ($315,000)
• Turning Point Society of Central Alberta ($999,000)
• SafeLink Alberta Society ($825,000)
• Centre for Sexuality Society ($600,000)
• HIV Network of Edmonton Society ($861,000)
• Boyle McCauley Health Centre Society ($1.06 million)
• Northreach Society ($1.2 million)
• Sandy Beach Ki Mamow Atoskanow Foundation ($190,000)

The eight projects will receive approximately $6 million over three years to develop and implement initiatives, with a focus on populations and geographic areas experiencing higher rates of infectious syphilis and congenital syphilis.

A total of 3,328 cases of infectious syphilis were reported in the province in 2022.

Congenital syphilis is a severe and life-threatening illness with up to 40 per cent of babies of infected mothers being stillborn, the province notes.