District of Columbia:

DISTRICT LAUNCHES NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has allocated $650,000 in District funding for
needle exchange programs to reduce HIV/AIDS in the District of
Columbia. The congressionally imposed ban, in effect for nearly 10
years on the District's local funding, was lifted in the enactment of
the new federal budget.

Mayor Fenty outlined a three-part strategy to fight HIV/AIDS among
substance users that includes immediate funding for needle exchange
programs, HIV testing, and connections to drug treatment, medical care
and other support services. According to the new District of Columbia
HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Report 2007, one out of five District residents
with HIV/AIDS were infected through intravenous drug use.

"For too long the District has not been able to support needle
exchange, a proven effective tool to combat HIV," said Mayor Fenty.
"With the help of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and other
members of Congress, the District can now lead the nation in a
comprehensive program to reduce HIV and drug use."

At the mayor's direction, the Department of Health HIV/AIDS
administration has been preparing to put the following actions into
effect once the ban was lifted:

1. Funding to needle exchange programs - Provide $300,000 to
Prevention Works!, the District's privately funded needle exchange
program, to expand its needle exchange and comprehensive substance
abuse and HIV prevention efforts, as well as offer technical
assistance and training to new organizations.

2. Offer needle exchange funding to programs - Issue a competitive
Request for Applications (RFA) to substance abuse, mental health,
primary medical care, homeless services and HIV/AIDS providers for
$350,000 in funding to add needle exchange to existing programs.

3. Comprehensive Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Plan - Draft a new
Comprehensive Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Plan with the goal of
implementation this fall.

Chicago's needle exchange program cut new HIV infections attributable
to injection drug use in half