FUNDING PROVIDED FOR NEEDLE EXCHANGE

One-time funding of $25,000 has been provided to reduce the spread of
blood-borne infections by raising awareness of safe needle
distribution in the South Okanagan.

Interior Health Prevention Services has received funding from the
B.C. Centre for Disease Control to take the first steps in
establishing a needle partnership program for Penticton and Oliver.

"It is essential that individuals have easy access to clean needles
to prevent the spread of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV," said
Colleen Maloney, a Penticton public health nurse.

"All communities have injection drug users, (and) our goal is to make
sure all injection drug users have clean needles, and that they are
safely disposed of."

This new funding will help to strengthen efforts to reduce the risk
and impact of blood-borne pathogens on the communities and
populations most at risk by enhancing a needle exchange program, and
by building on community interest in needle safety in Oliver.

A safe-needle exchange program has been operating from the Health
Unit in Penticton since October 1999 and it's the only exchange
available in the South Okanagan.

"In 2006, 24,000 needles were supplied and we provided services to 61
clients," said Maloney.

New funding will help address prevention of blood-borne pathogens
consistent with the approach recommended in the plan, said Maloney,
referring to Interior Health's action plan for blood-borne pathogens.

The plan takes a population health approach.

In Oliver, improperly discarded needles in public locations are a
real safety concern, said Megan Klammer, an Oliver public health nurse.

"We need to look for community solutions to help raise awareness and
reduce the chances of people coming in contact with needles."

Maloney and Klammer plan to form needle partnerships in their
communities until March.

They will work with local government, schools, businesses and the
general public to increase awareness and develop local solutions.

Anyone in the South Okanagan who has information about places where
people are unsafely disposing of needles, or who has any insights on
the proposed program, is being encouraged to call Maloney at 770-3428
or Klammer at 498-5071.