START OF NEEDLE-EXCHANGE PROGRAM LIKELY DELAYED

A second needle exchange program in Penticton will likely not start this year.

"We are waiting to meet with the city and make them aware of what we are
doing," said Colleen Maloney. "(A Penticton Western) article made people a
bit anxious about it, so it made us step back."

Maloney now hopes the program starts early next year once the city's social
development advisory committee has heard more details next month.

Plans call for a public health nurse to work out of the Orchard Avenue
Penticton Outreach Centre two hours a week on a three-month trial basis.

"There are people in the area who have health concerns and we need to do a
better job of addressing those concerns," said Maloney.

"These people are not unique to Penticton. All communities have a
population of people who are under-served and we already know that many of
those people use the Outreach Centre for the Soupateria, so we would like
to connect with them and find out about their health care needs and
identify any gaps in services."

Among the services the public health nurse will offer is the exchange of
dirty needles for clean ones, she said.

"That would be part of it," she said.

The trial - along with a survey conducted by OUC nursing students - will
help assess future, more permanent health care needs in the area, say
health officials. The board of St. Saviour's Anglican Church - which owns
the Penticton Outreach Centre building - unanimously blessed the
three-month trial period last month at a meeting Oct. 15.

Also scheduled are informational meetings with area residents and officials
from the Penticton Early Childhood Centre located at 521 Martin St. right
next to the Penticton Outreach Centre building, said Maloney.

The building will also be the site of a flu clinic scheduled for Nov. 20
from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.