HEP C DRIVES NEEDLE NEED

The hepatitis C epidemic in Australia should give impetus to the NSW
Government to properly resource needle and syringe programs, lobbyists said
yesterday.

Hepatitis C Council of NSW executive officer Stuart Loveday said the drug
summit should come up with resolutions focusing on reduction of blood-borne
diseases.

Mr Loveday said with 30 new hepatitis C infections in Australia every day,
the disease was the fastest-spreading blood-borne infection. Most cases
were caused by people sharing equipment used to inject illicit drugs.

``Needle and syringe programs have proved to be a spectacular success in
preventing an HIV epidemic among people who inject drugs,'' he said.

``Evidence shows that existing programs have substantially lowered
hepatitis C prevalence rates among people new to drug injecting.''

He said needle and syringe programs had prevented 2000 hepatitis C
transmissions each year.