About Us

“ It’s very, 

very clear that the risk

is zero. ”

-  Dr. Alison Rodger
Lead author of PARTNER study

What is U = U? *

The evidence is in: If you are HIV+, take treatment and maintain an undetectable viral load, you cannot pass HIV on to your sex partner – with or without condoms. In short, when HIV is undetectable, it’s untransmittable. Those words are long so the shorthand is “ U = U ”.

What is an undetectable viral load?

Viral load refers to the amount of HIV in the blood of a person living with HIV. HIV treatment can reduce the amount of HIV in the blood to a level too low to be measured by a viral load test. At that point, a person’s viral load is said to be undetectable. For most people, this occurs after taking HIV treatment for three to six months.

What are the benefits of having an undetectable viral load?

Starting treatment as soon as possible after becoming HIV positive decreases a person’s risk of developing serious illnesses and allows people to live long, healthy lives. Having an undetectable viral load can also prevent HIV transmission.

How do I know if I’m undetectable?

The only way to know is to have regular viral load tests. If your viral load becomes detectable again, there may be a risk of HIV transmission. An ongoing detectable viral load may also indicate that your HIV treatment is no longer working properly. If your viral load becomes detectable, talk to your doctor.

Where’s the proof?

Since the introduction of combination therapy for HIV in the mid-1990s, there have been no confirmed reports of anyone with an undetectable viral load sexually transmitting HIV. Not one!

This conclusion is based on the overwhelming force of real world and research evidence including five major international research studies. These studies (see sidebar) showed that not a single HIV transmission occurred between serodiscordant* sex partners when the partner living with HIV was on treatment and had an undetectable viral load. (*Serodiscordant means one partner was HIV negative and one was HIV positive.) Combined, these studies tracked more than 150,000 condomless anal and vaginal sex acts – and there were ZERO transmissions of HIV.

The Prevention Access Campaign—an international coalition of HIV advocates, activists and researchers who are spreading the word that undetectable HIV is untransmittable—has turned this scientific evidence into a simple message: U = U. Researchers from all the major treatment as prevention studies have endorsed it. In November of 2017 the Government of Canada also endorsed it.

 What about other STIs?

Maintaining an undetectable viral load can prevent HIV but it does not prevent the transmission of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Condoms can reduce the risk of many STIs, so you might want to use HIV treatment and condoms. Also, as STIs can be symptom-free regular STI testing is recommended for all sexually active people a minimum of once per year.

How can I make U = U work for me?

Take your HIV treatment as prescribed and see your healthcare provider regularly. Your ongoing healthcare should include blood tests to check your viral load and ensure that it remains undetectable. Wait until you have had at least two consecutive undetectable viral load test results before depending on this strategy.

To make this strategy keep working for you taking your meds is key. If you have trouble taking them every day, don’t be afraid to ask for help from your doctor, pharmacist and/or counsellor.

If your viral load does not become undetectable or if it becomes detectable again, this can increase the risk of transmission. In that case, you may need to use other prevention strategies, such as condoms or PrEP (for your partner(s)) until your viral load becomes undetectable.

Marc (He/Him) was raised in Westville, Nova Scotia, and is a lawyer at muttarts law firm in Kentville. He earned his Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick, and studied towards a Masters at Osgoode Hall. His masters’ work was on LGBT youth and the discrimination they face in the law.  Marc’s work has an emphasis in family law, child protection law, immigration and refugee law, and general human rights work.  He has a particular interest in health law and is on the board of various health and community-oriented organizations, including LGBT organizations and health facilities. He is also an avid actor.  

Sheena (She/Her) is a registered social worker with many years’ experience in the fields of community development, sexuality, and gender. She currently works as the Community Navigator with the Halifax Public Libraries. When she’s not reading all the books, she’s working with the many visitors to the branch every day. Her proudest accomplishment lately is swimming across the Halifax harbour for the United Way. 

Nakie (She/Her) is a dynamic fitness expert who has worked professionally within the fitness, health and science field for over 10 years. She is a senior level personal trainer and team training coach within GoodLife Fitness.  She is particularly focused on exercise as a form of therapy and pain management.  Nakie has roots within the historic African Nova Scotian community and in Ghana, West Africa.  She is a founding member of the community led organization AfriScotian, which is dedicated to sharing Black history with Nova Scotian youth. She has served as a youth mentor, organized charity events, and is a dedicated volunteer, and is a reoccurring guest speaker in Nova Scotian public schools and the Nova Scotian Freedom School for her expertise in health and fitness, along with other organizations!

Government Coverage of PrEP in Nova Scotia

The government of Nova Scotia has added PrEP to the provincial formulary and as a benefit under provincial Pharmacare programs.

At this time Pharmacare is the only government coverage available. People enrolled in Pharmacare programs are assessed based on their income, and charged premiums and co-pays according to their income level and number of people in their family. For example, Family Pharmacare has a cap on what you will pay annually, and this co-pay and premium is paid upfront and all at once. For more information about Pharmacare, visit https://novascotia.ca/dhw/pharmacare/.

An Intro To PrEP for HIV Prevention

In February 2016, Health Canada approved the use of daily Truvada as PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) for reducing the risk of transmission of HIV. Many people have not yet heard of PrEP, or if they have are not sure what to make of it. As well, many healthcare providers are unsure of how to proceed when a patient asks them about it.

If you have any questions or concerns re PrEP that are not covered on this page, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Also - check out the new video of the  "PrEP - The Pill to Prevent HIV: public information session" (scroll down to the bottom of this page) that took place on Jan. 31, 2018 at the Halifax Central Public Library. It was a great presentation and Q&A session with much valuable information shared.

So here’s some FAQs and resources to get started.

VIDEO: PrEP - The Pill to Prevent HIV: public information session (Halifax, NS - 2018)

Join moderator Renée Masching, plus our panelists at the Paul O`Regan Hall of the Halifax Central Library. The event includes an introductory presentation, followed by an open Q&A taped on Jan. 31^st, 2018.

The panel included: San Patten (Health Research Consultant); Dr. Matt Numer (Health Promotion Professor, Dalhousie University); Chris Aucoin (HIV Prevention Coordinator, AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia); and Dr. Glenn Andrea (Medical Director, Dalhousie University Student Health & Wellness Centre).

This event was organized by the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia in partnership with the Nova Scotia PrEP Working Group, the Halifax Central Public Library, and the Nova Scotia Advisory Commission on AIDS. 

The Health Equity Alliance of Nova Scotia raises funds and accepts donations online for a variety of health-related projects. This Donations/Refund Policy applies to anyone who makes an on-line donation to the any of these projects. As your donation is being made online without our assistance or involvement we ask that you complete your details and the amount of your donation carefully as it involves a substantial amount of administrative time to deal with and rectify any errors.

In summary:

1. There is no minimum donation.
2. Donations are non-refundable.
3. All credit card transactions will be processed in Canadian dollars.

Errors in Amount Pledged

Should an error be made in the amount of any donation, the donor has 60 days in which to notify the Health Equity Alliance of Nova Scotia of the error. All requests for refunds must be made in writing by post to The Executive Director, Health Equity Alliance of Nova Scotia, 5516 Spring Garden Road, Suite 200, Halifax, NS B3J 1G6. The request should have the details of the initial donation including the date, amount, name of the donor, any tax invoice number and the nature of the error. Any tax receipt issued for the incorrect amount immediately becomes void and invalid, and a new tax receipt will be issued for the amount of the corrected donation.

Change of Heart on Donation

Refunds of the amount pledged cannot be made simply because you have changed your mind. It is for this reason that we ask that you make your choice to donate carefully. The Health Equity Alliance of Nova Scotia is under no obligation to provide a refund, but will ensure that any genuine errors (such as to the amount donated) are rectified.

Errors by Us

Should an error be made by the Health Equity Alliance of Nova Scotia or its financial institution, full refunds will be made immediately upon notification of the error and all costs borne by the Health Equity Alliance of Nova Scotia.

1. Introduction

This website is operated by the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia. The terms: “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia. The use of our website is subject to the following terms and conditions of use, as amended from time to time (the “Terms”). The Terms are to be read together by you with any terms, conditions or disclaimers provided in the pages of our website. Please review the Terms carefully. The Terms apply to all users of our website, including without limitation, users who are browsers, customers, merchants, vendors and/or contributors of content. If you access and use this website, you accept and agree to be bound by and comply with the Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to the Terms or our Privacy Policy, you are not authorized to access our website or use any of our website’s services.

2. Use of our Website

You agree to use our website for legitimate purposes and not for any illegal or unauthorized purpose, including without limitation, in violation of any intellectual property or privacy law. By agreeing to the Terms, you represent and warrant that you are at least the age of majority in your state or province of residence and are legally capable of entering into a binding contract.

You agree to not use our website to conduct any activity that would constitute a civil or criminal offence or violate any law. You agree not to attempt to interfere with our website’s network or security features or to gain unauthorized access to our systems.

You agree to provide us with accurate personal information, such as your email address, mailing address and other contact details in order to complete your order or contact you as needed. You agree to promptly update your account and information. You authorize us to collect and use this information to contact you in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

3. General Conditions

We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, at any time, for any reason.

We reserve the right to make any modifications to the website, including terminating, changing, suspending or discontinuing any aspect of the website at any time, without notice.

We may impose additional rules or limits on the use of our website. You agree to review the Terms regularly and your continued access or use of our website will mean that you agree to any changes.

You agree that we will not be liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension or discontinuance of our website or for any service, content, feature or product offered through our website.

4. Products or Services

All purchases through our website are subject to product availability. We may, in our sole discretion, limit or cancel the quantities offered on our website or limit the sales of our products or services to any person, household, geographic region or jurisdiction.

Prices for our products are subject to change, without notice. Unless otherwise indicated, prices displayed on our website are quoted in Canadian dollars.

We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to refuse orders, including without limitation, orders that appear to be placed by distributors or resellers. If we believe that you have made a false or fraudulent order, we will be entitled to cancel the order and inform the relevant authorities.

5. Links to Third-Party Websites

Links from or to websites outside our website are meant for convenience only. We do not review, endorse, approve or control, and are not responsible for any sites linked from or to our website, the content of those sites, the third parties named therein, or their products and services. Linking to any other site is at your sole risk and we will not be responsible or liable for any damages in connection with linking. Links to downloadable software sites are for convenience only and we are not responsible or liable for any difficulties or consequences associated with downloading the software. Use of any downloaded software is governed by the terms of the license agreement, if any, which accompanies or is provided with the software.

6. Use Comments, Feedback, and Other Submissions

You acknowledge that you are responsible for the information, profiles, opinions, messages, comments and any other content (collectively, the “Content”) that you post, distribute or share on or through our website or services available in connection with our website. You further acknowledge that you have full responsibility for the Content, including but limited to, with respect to its legality, and its trademark, copyright and other intellectual property ownership.

You agree that any Content submitted by you in response to a request by us for a specific submission may be edited, adapted, modified, recreated, published, or distributed by us. You further agree that we are under no obligation to maintain any Content in confidence, to pay compensation for any Content or to respond to any Content.

You agree that you will not post, distribute or share any Content on our website that is protected by copyright, trademark, patent or any other proprietary right without the express consent of the owner of such proprietary right. You further agree that your Content will not be unlawful, abusive or obscene nor will it contain any malware or computer virus that could affect our website’s operations. You will be solely liable for any Content that you make and its accuracy. We have no responsibility and assume no liability for any Content posted by you or any third-party.

We reserve the right to terminate your ability to post on our website and to remove and/or delete any Content that we deem objectionable. You consent to such removal and/or deletion and waive any claim against us for the removal and/or deletion of your Content.

7. Your Personal Information

Please see our Privacy Policy to learn about how we collect, use, and share your personal information.

8. Errors and Omissions

Please note that our website may contain typographical errors or inaccuracies and may not be complete or current. We reserve the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update information at any time, without prior notice (including after an order has been submitted). Such errors, inaccuracies or omissions may relate to product description, pricing, promotion and availability and we reserve the right to cancel or refuse any order placed based on incorrect pricing or availability information, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

We do not undertake to update, modify or clarify information on our website, except as required by law.

9. Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability

You assume all responsibility and risk with respect to your use of our website, which is provided “as is” without warranties, representations or conditions of any kind, either express or implied, with regard to information accessed from or via our website, including without limitation, all content and materials, and functions and services provided on our website, all of which are provided without warranty of any kind, including but not limited to warranties concerning the availability, accuracy, completeness or usefulness of content or information, uninterrupted access, and any warranties of title, non-infringement, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. We do not warrant that our website or its functioning or the content and material of the services made available thereby will be timely, secure, uninterrupted or error-free, that defects will be corrected, or that our websites or the servers that make our website available are free of viruses or other harmful components.

In no event will we, or our affiliates, our or their respective content or service providers, or any of our or their respective directors, officers, agents, contractors, suppliers or employees be liable to you for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, exemplary or punitive damages, losses or causes of action, or lost revenue, lost profits, lost business or sales, or any other type of damage, whether based in contract or tort (including negligence), strict liability or otherwise, arising from your use of, or the inability to use, or the performance of, our website or the content or material or functionality through our website, even if we are advised of the possibility of such damages.

Certain jurisdictions do not allow limitation of liability or the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. In such jurisdictions, some or all of the above disclaimers, exclusions, or limitations, may not apply to you and our liability will be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

10. Indemnification

You agree to defend and indemnify us, and hold us and our affiliates harmless,, and our and their respective directors, officers, agents, contractors, and employees against any losses, liabilities, claims, expenses (including legal fees) in any way arising from, related to or in connection with your use of our website, your violation of the Terms, or the posting or transmission of any materials on or through the website by you, including but not limited to, any third party claim that any information or materials provided by you infringe upon any third party proprietary rights.

11. Entire Agreement

The Terms and any documents expressly referred to in them represent the entire agreement between you and us in relation to the subject matter of the Terms and supersede any prior agreement, understanding or arrangement between you and us, whether oral or in writing. Both you and we acknowledge that, in entering into these Terms, neither you nor we have relied on any representation, undertaking or promise given by the other or implied from anything said or written between you and us prior to such Terms, except as expressly stated in the Terms.

12. Waiver

Our failure to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the Terms will not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. A waiver by us of any default will not constitute a waiver of any subsequent default. No waiver by us is effective unless it is communicated to you in writing.

13. Headings

Any headings and titles herein are for convenience only.

14. Severability

If any of the provisions of the Terms are determined by any competent authority to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, such provision will to that extent be severed from the remaining Terms, which will continue to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

15. Governing Law

Any disputes arising out of or relating to the Terms, the Privacy Policy, use of our website, or our products or services offered on our website will be resolved in accordance with the laws of the Province of Nova Scotia without regard to its conflict of law rules. Any disputes, actions or proceedings relating to the Terms or your access to or use of our website must be brought before the courts of the Province of Nova Scotia in the City of Halifax, Nova Scotia and you irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts.

16. Questions or Concerns

Please send all questions, comments and feedback to us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We are committed to maintaining the accuracy, confidentiality, and security of your personally identifiable information ("Personal Information"). As part of this commitment, our privacy policy governs our actions as they relate to the collection, use and disclosure of Personal Information.

Our privacy policy is based upon the values set by the Canadian Standards Association's Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information and Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.

1. Introduction

We are responsible for maintaining and protecting the Personal Information under our control. We have designated an individual or individuals who is/are responsible for compliance with our privacy policy.

2. Identifying Purposes

We collect, use and disclose Personal Information to provide you with the product or service you have requested and to offer you additional products and services we believe you might be interested in. The purposes for which we collect Personal Information will be identified before or at the time we collect the information. In certain circumstances, the purposes for which information is collected may be clear, and consent may be implied, such as where your name, address and payment information is provided as part of the order or donation process.

3. Consent

Knowledge and consent are required for the collection, use or disclosure of Personal Information except where required or permitted by law. Providing us with your Personal Information is always your choice. However, your decision not to provide certain information may limit our ability to provide you with our products or services. We will not require you to consent to the collection, use, or disclosure of information as a condition to the supply of a product or service, except as required to be able to supply the product or service.

4. Limiting Collection

The Personal Information collected will be limited to those details necessary for the purposes identified by us. With your consent, we may collect Personal Information from you in person, over the telephone or by corresponding with you via mail, facsimile, or the Internet.

5. Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention

Personal Information may only be used or disclosed for the purpose for which it was collected unless you have otherwise consented, or when it is required or permitted by law. Personal Information will only be retained for the period of time required to fulfill the purpose for which we collected it, or as may be required by law. [If applicable, include a description of any partieswith whom you may share Personal Information.]

6. Accuracy

Personal Information will be maintained in as accurate, complete and up-to-date form as is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it is to be used.

7. Safeguarding Customer Information

Personal Information will be protected by security safeguards that are appropriate to the sensitivity level of the information. We take all reasonable precautions to protect your Personal Information from any loss or unauthorized use, access or disclosure.

8. Openness

We will make information available to you about our policies and practices with respect to the management of your Personal Information.

9. Customer Access

Upon request, you will be informed of the existence, use and disclosure of your Personal

Information, and will be given access to it. You may verify the accuracy and completeness of your Personal Information, and may request that it be amended, if appropriate. However, in certain circumstances permitted by law, we will not disclose certain information to you. For example, we may not disclose information relating to you if other individuals are referenced or if there are legal, security or commercial proprietary restrictions.

10. Handling Customer Complaints and Suggestions

You may direct any questions or enquiries with respect to our privacy policy or our practices by contacting:

The Executive Director
AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia
5516 Spring Garden Road, Suite 200,
Halifax, NS B3J 1G6
P: (902) 425 4882
F: (902) 422 6200
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Additional Information

Cookies

A cookie is a small computer file or piece of information that may be stored in your computer's hard drive when you visit our websites. We may use cookies to improve our website’s functionality and in some cases, to provide visitors with a customized online experience.

Cookies are widely used and most web browsers are configured initially to accept cookies automatically. You may change your Internet browser settings to prevent your computer from accepting cookies or to notify you when you receive a cookie so that you may decline its acceptance. Please note, however, if you disable cookies, you may not experience optimal performance of our website.

Other Websites

Our website may contain links to other third party sites that are not governed by this privacy policy. Although we endeavour to only link to sites with high privacy standards, our privacy policy will no longer apply once you leave our website. Additionally, we are not responsible for the privacy practices employed by third party websites. Therefore, we suggest that you examine the privacy statements of those sites to learn how your information may be collected, used, shared and disclosed.

The word ‘hepatitis’ basically refers to inflammation of the liver while the reasons for the inflammation may vary from viruses such as Hepatitis A, B or C or even as a result of alcohol consumption or taking medications that negatively impact the liver. A person can acquire more than one hepatitis virus at a time, take a look at the chart below that explains the basic differences.

Hepatitis ABC’s

Hepatitis C Transmission 

Common Questions About Hep C  

Talking About Hep C

HEAL NS offers a wide variety of programs and services targeted to our diverse communities. You’ll find everything from knowledge sharing and prevention techniques, to workshops, support and programs for individuals, community groups and health professionals.

HEAL NS also is bringing back our yearly knowledge exchange forum (look for it in 2025) where the latest information and emerging issues are discussed. The Forum engages PLHAs, people living with HCV co-infection, representatives from community-based HIV/AIDS organizations and broader sexual health organizations, health professionals, and those with a stake in the future of HIV-STBBI work in Nova Scotia.

Learn more about all of our programs at the links below.

• Vision & Mission
• Publications & Reports
• Become a Member