5 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026
MUSIC THERAPIST
Cecilia Bellingham earned a Bachelor of Music before deciding to pursue a career as a music therapist at HSC Children's Hospital. Supplied
Cecilia Bellingham will often start off playing or singing a tune that is familiar to a patient just to see how they'll respond. Supplied
SPONSORED CONTENT
Expanding to meet growing patient needs
KEYSTONE MEDICAL CLINIC ADDS OPIOID ADDICTION, HIV TREATMENT PROGRAM
By Jim Bender
mains highly underutilized here as a prevention strategy,” says Jocelyn Bevacqua, a nurse practitioner at Keystone Medical Clinic. Bevacqua says helping people get prevention ser- vices is just as important as improving treatment and support for those living with HIV. For some patients, addiction and HIV risk are con- nected. Offering care for both through one program can make it easier to get help. “Many of the individuals who could benefit from these services are navigating complex challenges in accessing care, so flexibility and an integrated approach to offering these services just makes sense,” Bevacqua says. Patients can choose an online or in-person appoint- ment. In-person visits are available for people who do not have the technology for virtual care, prefer to meet their provider face-to-face or need more detailed sexual health care. Patients call one central phone number to access the program. They can choose from participating locations, including North End Medical Clinic, Munroe Medical Clin- ic and Balmoral Clinic. “The way we’ve set it up is hopefully, people will have the ability to choose where they would like to access their care,” Bevacqua says. “We can be responsive so that it’s more convenient for people.” The program has three nurse practitioners and a ded- icated staff member who answers calls and questions. Keystone also hopes to reach more people outside Winnipeg, including in northern Manitoba. That expan- sion is still being planned, but some virtual care is al- ready available. “We do have a virtual component right now and we’re trying to increase access particularly to the North, which hasn’t been set up yet,” Bevacqua says. “But there is an ability to do some virtual care.” The clinic says most, but not all, treatment is covered by Manitoba Health. Patients should ask which services and medications are covered and whether they will need to pay any costs. To learn more about opioid addiction treat- ment or HIV prevention services, contact Key- stone Medical Clinic at 204-410-2800 or info@keystonemedicalclinic.ca. ■
432 Health Group is expanding services through Key- stone Medical Clinic to help more people get treatment for opioid addiction and medication to prevent HIV. The program offers in-person and virtual appoint- ments at several partnering Winnipeg clinics. It brings addiction treatment, HIV prevention and sexual health- care together so patients can get help without having to visit separate providers. “We are continually growing and adapting to always meet our growing patient needs,” 432 Health Group says on its website. “Recognizing gaps in the health care sys- tem, we are committed to bridging them through innova- tion, creativity and resourcefulness.” Arlene Garcia, general manager of 432 Health Group, says the program gives patients more options for care. “We want people to know that we offer opioid agonist treatment and that we have several satellite locations, with nurse practitioners available to accommodate ap- pointments for individuals seeking treatment options,” Garcia says. “We are also expanding access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, in response to the in- creasing number of HIV infections in Manitoba.” Opioid Agonist Treatment, often called OAT, uses medication to help people with opioid addiction. It reduc- es cravings and withdrawal symptoms and lowers the risk of overdose. PrEP is medication for people who do not have HIV. When taken as prescribed, it greatly reduces their risk of getting the virus. The expanded services come as Manitoba faces a sharp rise in HIV diagnoses. According to provincial data, the province recorded 328 new diagnoses in 2025, up from 90 in 2019. Manitoba has the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses in Canada. In 2024, its rate was more than three-and- a-half times the national rate. The province declared a public health emergency on May 7, 2026, in response to rising cases. Injection drug use and heterosexual sex are the most common reported ways HIV is spread in Manitoba. Despite the availability of medication to prevent HIV, the clinic says many people who could benefit from PrEP are not using it. “Manitoba is facing a significant challenge. We have some of the highest HIV rates in the country, yet PrEP re-
With live music, it’s the connection and the fact we can tailor the music and what we’re doing for maximum benefits for that child, in that moment, to ease their pain and their stress.
– Cecilia Bellingham, music therapisttherapist
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