VIENNA (NEWS1130) - Anger is growing at the federal government over its funding announcements at the World AIDS Conference in Vienna. Two well-known local groups say more must be done.
The Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation in Vancouver says Canada's Minister of Health, Leona Aglukka, would not confirm her support for clean needle handouts to prevent the spread of the disease.
The foundation is upset both former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates emphasized the need for clean needles at the conference, while Ottawa wouldn't.
According to the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, new infection rates for aboriginals are much higher than for the general population, and most contract HIV through injection drug use.
The Harper government is also hearing plenty of anger from Dr. Julio Montaner, from the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV-AIDS. He says the Tory pledge to spend $88 million on research for an HIV vaccine was money already pledged, and it's simply not enough.