GROUP WANTS NEEDLE EXCHANGE TAKEN ON THE ROAD

A COALITION of health and social workers here wants to create a mobile
needle exchange unit, saying the courthouse and social services
offices are too close to the health unit where the exchange program is
now housed.

Although the number of needles being exchanged is rising, Terrace
Women's Centre co-ordinator Frances Birdsell says a mobile unit in a
van would be used by more people.

"We have to find out how harm reduction practices can best be
delivered," Birdsell said. "I think a mobile unit is the best way to
go."

She described the courthouse and social services offices as 'systemic
barriers' to people who use the exchange.

The exchange offers clients sterilized water, bandages, alcohol rub,
cotton, needles and syringes, male and female condoms, educational
material and immunizations for those who qualify.

Birdsell was joined by Jeannette Anderson and Doug Sandwell, managers
with Northwest Addiction Services, and by public health nurse Nancy
Dhaliwal in late September to draw up the proposal that was submitted
to the Union of B.C. Municipalities meeting in Vancouver Sept. 24-28.

"There was an opportunity for funding through the UBCM and we acted
upon it because of interest (in the area)," said Birdsell of the group
that also includes the Terrace city health task force.

The city"s collaboration was a requirement in order for the pilot
project to be considered for money.

Birdsell said councillor Stew Christensen responded to the coalition's
September plea to pass a resolution to support the expression of interest.

Anderson said the project is in its infancy and therefore details and
operational specifics are not yet required.

"Is it a need? That's what we're trying to identify," Anderson said,
adding a dialogue with the community is still needed.

What the coalition has identified is a growing number of visits over
last year at the public health needle exchange.

Dhaliwal, who works at the Skeena health unit's needle exchange two
days a week, said in July 2005 there were 1,125 visitors compared to
913 in July 2004, a 23 per cent jump.

From 1998 until last year, the clinic was only open for 30 minutes
every Friday. Though it's now officially open Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays, Dhaliwal said that's not even enough.

"It's pretty much a drop-in (centre)," Dhaliwal said. "People just
come whenever."

The program previously gave one needle per visitor but now hands out
an unlimited number of needles in its harm reduction approach.

On one recent afternoon, in just 20 minutes, four clients took with
them 700 needles.

In 2003, the exchange was moved to Mills Memorial Hospital but
Dhaliwal said it proved to be a dismal failure. The move lasted just
six months.

"We need to take the service to the clients that can't access it,"
said Anderson, adding the proposed mobile unit would service
Kitsumkalum, Kitselas, Usk, Lakelse Lake and Thornhill.

"If you reduce the risk, you reduce the strain on other facilities,"
Anderson added. "If you reduce (the number of infected people) by one,
it causes a ripple effect.

Anyone who develops Hepatitis C and HIV puts a strain on the
system."

According to the most recent statistics from the B.C. Centre for
Disease Control, out of 16 definable regions, the northwest witnessed
the biggest percentage increase in HIV cases between 2003 and 2004.

Dhaliwal said unlike other diseases, Hepatitis C and HIV are
preventable. "They just have to have clean needles," Dhaliwal said.

In the grant application, the city has grouped the mobile needle
proposal with requests for money for a seniors' study and a health
task force report.

Two city councillors stopped at the needle exchange in Prince George
recently and one said he was shocked at the number of young people
using it.

Rich McDaniel, speaking at the Oct. 24 council meeting, said Terrace
has an injection problem but not to the same extent as the one in
Prince George.

"I don't know and don't understand the shooting up end of it ... but
we have to protect the people who are doing it and try to encourage
them to come off," he said.