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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Syphilis Outbreak Action Response (SOAR)

Province announces recipients of syphilis education and prevention grant

Dec 13, 2023 | 12:29 PM

The Government of Alberta 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 (SOAR), and launched earlier this year, the province says.

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“We must take targeted action to address syphilis rates in our province. 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,” says Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health.

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.

“HIV Edmonton in collaboration with Streetworks, Boyle Street Community Services, welcomes the funding provided in response to the syphilis outbreak across the province, especially in the Edmonton region,” says Catherine Broomfield, executive director, HIV Network of Edmonton. “Along with the other local recipient organization, Radius Community Health and Healing, we see a harmonized approach to supporting Albertans to access testing, treatment, support and education to lower transmission rates and eliminate 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.