CITY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT DRUG PLAN: VIHA HEAD

Vancouver Island Health Authority CEO Howard Waldner agrees with
Nanaimo councillors that the city should have been consulted about
VIHA nurses distributing crack pipes.

"I'm disappointed and concerned we have not had that consultation and
discussion with the city," said Waldner.

After the nurses had been handing out crack pipes for five months, in
a kit with a condom, gum and wire screens for the pipes, council only
learned of the activity Monday. They met with VIHA representatives
about it for the first time in an in camera meeting on Monday afternoon.

Mayor Gary Korpan said on Tuesday he was "disgusted" the city had not
been consulted, and said the majority of council wanted to hear from
Waldner at an open council meeting.

Waldner said on Wednesday he had been trying to reach Korpan by
phone, with no luck. VIHA also had a board meeting in Victoria on Wednesday.

He explained that the crack pipes were being distributed in a wider
context of harm reduction.

"This is one step in a whole range of harm reduction strategies other
jurisdictions have been using."

Waldner said provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall has
sanctioned such harm reduction efforts. While there is a concern of
diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis C and tuberculosis being passed on,
Nanaimo nurses were also concerned because some crack smokers had
inhaled small metal brillo pads they use as part of smoking the drug.

Waldner said VIHA had an obligation to work with the city on
implementing the plan. Key partners like the city, he said, need to
be kept informed of such health strategies.