How GIS Helps REACH Nexus Fight HIV

March 17, 2026

Alexander Watts

Location intelligence is changing the way we tackle health inequities by revealing patterns that data tables can’t. Based on a joint webinar, read on to see how REACH Nexus uses location intelligence to expand HIV testing and care across Canada.

Advancing health equity remains one of the most complex and pressing challenges in Canada. From food security and climate-related health impacts to access in rural and remote communities, public health and healthcare systems continue to grapple with how to deliver equitable services across diverse populations and geographies.

Applying the Science of Where

What’s often overlooked when addressing health inequities is their spatial nature. Where people live influences their access to care, exposure to risk, and even life expectancy. These inequities are not random and consistently affect certain populations, neighbourhoods, and regions. Understanding where inequities exist is therefore essential to addressing them.

"Health inequity is really complex. Mapping out the factors that contribute to health inequities helps reduce that complexity so we can better understand where to remove barriers to care."
_{-Anderson Webber, Research Data Analyst, REACH Nexus}

This inherently geographic dimension is why health organizations around the world are adopting geographic information systems (GIS). GIS enables the integration, analysis and visualization of health and social data, helping teams see patterns that are difficult to detect in tables or reports alone. By layering data in a geographic context, health analysts can identify access gaps, understand community-level need and support more targeted, place-based interventions.

The quest to provide equitable access to HIV care

Reaching priority populations was at the forefront for one Canadian organization who were looking for a technology solution that would help them monitor where their HIV outreach programs were working, and where they could improve. Part of the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital (Unity Health Toronto), REACH Nexus is a national research group working to address HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs). In Canada, 11% of people with HIV have it but don’t know it. REACH Nexus has made it its mission to end Canada’s HIV epidemic and has launched a series of national public health interventions with remarkable real-world impacts.

Various statistics reflecting REACH Nexus' success to date.

This work has been achieved via multiple innovative national programs like I’m Ready and Our Healthbox, all while easily accessing and sharing real-time data. The team has leveraged ArcGIS Online across multiple programs in different ways to help connect clinic and community partners across the country, monitor progress over time, and to communicate data to their broad community of stakeholders.

“Integrating ArcGIS Online into our programs has helped connect our national network of partners, enabling more coordinated, collaborative efforts to reach underserved communities.”
_{- Kristin MacLennan, Director of Operations, REACH Nexus}

Reaching priority populations wherever they live

I’m ReadyNote: This image is for demo purposes only.

One of REACH Nexus’ national outreach programs is called I’m Ready, which seeks to expand access to HIV self-testing through free access to self-test kits, via a mobile app, with virtual support to help create linkages to care. The mobile app allows users to order free HIV self-test kits for delivery or pick-up. Yet integrated within the mobile app is ArcGIS Survey123, used to connect the app survey form-fills to GIS in near real-time.

The team has also leveraged ArcGIS’s Near Me widget to help connect users with nearby services within the app. Before integrating ArcGIS, users could only select a location to pick up a test from a drop-down menu, thus lacking the context needed for users to determine if it was feasible to access that location. ArcGIS was the natural fix to provide a spatial view.

Note: This is sample data for demo purposes only. All data is aggregated to the nearest FSA to ensure privacy and anonymity.

I’m Ready also uses ArcGIS Dashboards to monitor how the program is reaching key populations and where self-test kits were being distributed across Canada in near real-time. Using ArcGIS Dashboards for internal program review, REACH can better observe progress within and between regions across Canada. The geographic interface helps the team review which locations are ordering more kits, where kits are being picked up, who is engaging with the program, and the regional contexts of these patterns. For example, the REACH Nexus team determined that participants living in rural areas were 1.5 times more likely to have never tested before and could visualize these impacts in the map dashboard. Many more insights have been uncovered that have helped the team understand the scope of needs, the reach of the program and impact, all while being able to communicate it to key stakeholders.

Our Healthbox

Tied to the I’m Ready program, Our Healthbox is a program for providing interactive dispensing (vending) machines that provides 24/7 access to HIV self-test kits and harm reductions supplies like naloxone, sexual health items and information about available services. Since launching in 2023, 24 vending machines have been placed across Canada and have dispensed more than 90,000+ supplies. Due to the advanced level of technology built within each unit and the survey data being pulled, a large amount of data is being made available to use for analysis, performance tracking and expansion planning. Once more, the team turned to GIS to help meet their high data needs and help scale up the number of Healthbox machines across Canada, especially in rural and remote communities.

“Viewing Healthbox data through an ArcGIS Dashboard uncovered patterns in how the machines were being used that we simply couldn’t see in spreadsheets.”
_{- Kristin MacLennan, Director of Operations, REACH Nexus}

Image of ArcGIS dashboard showing demographic information of Healthbox users, superimposed on top of an image of Healthboxes.
Note: This is sample data for demo purposes only. All data is aggregated to the nearest FSA to ensure privacy and anonymity.

Through GIS, REACH Nexus can share regular reports on key data on population and demographics with vending machine host sites and communities. They built scalable dashboards for each vending machine getting its own custom data view. ArcGIS also allowed them to provide secure, password-protected access to external partners supporting the program. This not only provides REACH Nexus insight into usage and program resource management but also supports their efforts to better engage and connect with underserved populations.

Coordinating impact through the power of GIS

GIS isn’t just a tool for visualization, it’s a catalyst for action. By uncovering patterns that traditional data tables can’t reveal, GIS empowers organizations like REACH Nexus to ensure national public health programs reach those who need it most. From coordinated, nationwide HIV outreach to monitoring harm reduction programs to strategic planning for underserved communities, location intelligence transforms data into impact. It’s essential for building a future where equitable care is not just a goal, but a reality.

For a deeper look at this work, we invite you to watch the full webinar recording to hear directly from the REACH Nexus team and Esri Canada experts on how location intelligence is accelerating progress toward ending Canada’s HIV epidemic.