ROCK TO OFFER $1 MILLION IN CITY AIDS WAR

Health Minister Allan Rock is expected to announce today the federal
government will pledge $1 million towards fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic
among injectiondrug users in the Downtown Eastside.

But frontline workers reacted with frustration late Thursday, saying much
more money is needed to battle the escalating and deadly problem.

The Vancouver Sun has learned Health Canada will designate the $1 million
for use in such areas as expanding support for HIV prevention; increased
substanceabuse programs; more services for native Indians; and new models
for services and programs.

The Vancouver/Richmond health board has declared the rate of HIV among
injectiondrug users as high as 50 per cent by some reports an
epidemic in the povertystricken area. Since then, Vancouver Centre MP
Libby Davies (NDP) and activists have been lobbying the federal government
for financial help.

The money announced today will be added to pledges of $3 million by the
province and $1.65 million by the health board last month.

But John Turvey, executive director of the Downtown Eastside Youth
Activities Society, called the amount ``a drop in the bucket it's zip''
when it comes to fighting the staggering epidemic.

He said the $1 million wouldn't be enough cash to reopen the nowclosed
Pender Street detox centre.

``Rock is really copping out. One of the biggest facilitators in this AIDS
epidemic is the inequities and standards of substanceabuse programs in the
healthcare system across Canada,'' Turvey said.

Turvey said ``the little bit of money'' should be put towards improving
subsidized housing, which he calls one of the biggest dilemmas in the
Downtown Eastside.

He vowed to keep up the pressure for more federal funding.

Both Turvey and Lou Demerais, executive director of the Vancouver Native
Health Society, say frontline workers were not asked for their input on
how much money is needed in the Downtown Eastside and for what it should be
used.

Demerais is worried the federal contribution will make little difference if
it's ``all chopped up'' and targeted toward several areas.

He believes all of the money should go toward detoxification centres and
treatment for addicts.

``Our biggest problem we're having now is our workers aren't able to get
people stabilized,'' he said. ``It's probably not enough [money], but it
will at least get us started.''

Rock is also expected to announce today he's accepted an invitation by
Mayor Philip Owen to become a member of Vancouver's Coalition for Crime
Prevention and Drug Treatment.