BYLAW BUMPING UP HIV RATES?

Some Say City Rules Lead to Silent Suffering

Advocates working with people suffering the HIV/AIDs virus in
Abbotsford say the city's anti-harm reduction bylaws may negatively be
impacting infection rates.

Brian Gross, of the Fraser Valley Positive Living Society, said the
city's policies may be playing a role in the rise of some infection
rates.

"Abbotsford's harm reduction by-law not only keeps proven life-saving
materials, such as clean needles, from those who need them, but it
sends the messages to drug users that their lives aren't important,"
said Gross.

The city's current bylaw bans harm reduction facilities such as needle
exchanges or injection sites in all zones of the city.

The bylaw is presently undergoing a review by city staff and a report
is expected this spring.

Statistics indicate that infection rates for the disease among both
hetero and homosexual populations is on the rise in the Fraser East
region, which stretches from Abbotsford east to Hope and Harrison,
said Gross.

Straight transmission rates have risen from 13 per cent in 1996 to 42
per cent in 2007.

Rates for gay men have almost tripled since 1999, rising to 32 per
cent in 2007.

The city's policy of prohibiting needle distribution centres not only
increases the risks of transmitting the virus, but it also means there
are few opportunities to establish relationships with those already
infected who need medical treatment.

New research shows that treating those with the HIV/AIDs virus
significantly decreases new infections, said Gross.

The province recently committed $48 million to a four-year pilot
project titled Stop HIV/AIDs to improve access to testing, treatment
and support services with the aim of decreasing infection rates.

"If you find those infected with HIV and treat them, it reduces the
viral load in a person's body to almost zero, making it unlikely they
will transmit the virus. That means treatment is prevention, " said
Gross.

"But there needs to be a way to make connections with high-risk
populations and build relationships so we can help people understand
the benefits of testing and treatment."

Some organizations in the city working with marginalized populations
are being forced into the ethical dilemma of having to decide whether
or not to distribute needles illegally, he added.

"If you give out a needle you prevent transmission of a
life-threatening disease but you're doing something illegal," he said.

"It's also hard to evaluate how needle distribution might be working
[to prevent transmission] because it's all done underground."

The lack of harm reduction sites also makes it harder to track HIV
transmission rates, he added.

"There are still a significant number of people dying in the valley
who are positive but don't know it and aren't being treated. The only
we know about it is because they die."

In addition to the lack of needle distribution sites, there are few
places in Abbotsford where adult homosexual men can go to feel safe,
connect with peers and get prevention or treatment information, said
Gross.

"We're concerned that there are few ways to connect with men who have
sex with men in the valley, and to convey non-judgmental prevention
messages," he said.

"Reducing HIV transmission in the [homosexual] population has a lot to
do with public education."

In the fall, Fraser Health also raised concerns around Hepatitis C
infection rates in Abbotsford in relation to its anti-harm reduction
bylaws.

The Fraser East region has the third highest reported rate of Hep C
incidence in B.C., according to Fraser Health 2008 data.

Additionally, Abbotsford has a Hep C rate of 69.6 per 100,000 people
compared to the surrounding municipalities of Chilliwack at a rate of
67.6, and Surrey at 60.2.

Fraser Health funds three community organizations to provide and
collect needles in Burnaby/New Westminster, Surrey and Chilliwack.

Mission also has one service organization distributing needles on a
limited basis.

However, Fraser Health has not funded harm reduction services into
Abbotsford because of its anti-harm reduction bylaws.

Mayor George Peary said council expects to see a report on the issue
from staff soon.

"The decision was to wait to see the report, and provide council the
opportunity to seek public feedback, and make some decisions," said
Peary adding there are strong opinions on both sides of the issue.

The current anti-harm reduction bylaws came into effect in 2005 with a
unanimous vote by council, which included Peary, under Mary Reeves as
mayor.

However, new information from public heath officials and the city's
social development development advisory committee, merits a
re-visitation of the issues, said Peary.

"We did not in those days have access to the rates on Hep C and HIV,"
said Peary.

"It might be that this new information will cause who voted in favour
of current status to change their minds."

The Positive Living Fraser Valley Society operates a drop-in centre,
The Lighthouse Centre, and services and leisure activities for HIV
positive individuals and their families. For more information visit
www.plfv.org/services_lighthouse_centre.html .