Provincially run needle exchange off to slow start

A needle exchange programin Charlottetown seems to be attracting fewer people since the province took over the service fromAIDS PEI on April 1.

'People are not using that provincial program because they are unable to get there.' Mark Hanlon, AIDS PEI

Only two people visited the clinic last week between Wednesday, when it reopened under provincial managementat a new location,and Friday. Numbers were not available for this week. AIDS PEI said that when it ran the service, 15 to 40 people were using it per week. The executive director of AIDS PEI, Mark Hanlon, told CBC News Wednesday that 14 people have shown up atthe organization'sdoors looking for supplies in the last week.

AIDS PEI is a community organization that works primarily to raise awareness and reduce incidence of HIV/AIDS and provide support to those living with the disease.

"No.1,they don't trust the government, which is expected," said Hanlon by way of explanation for why people aren't using the new clinic. "No. 2, we had several women who have come in who are concerned about being recognized at the provincial location by various people and concerned about losing their children.

Accessibility is also a problem for the new clinic, Hanlon said. Whereas the service used to be run out of the AIDS PEI office, which isjust a few blocks from the centre of town, the provincial site is in a mall in the city's northeast.

"I guess the most common reason we're hearing [for why] people are not using that provincial program is because they are unable to get there," Hanlon said.

Service being promoted

Provincial Chief Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said efforts are underway to increase awareness of the service.

"We are continuing to work on getting the word out, through organizations and also sending some information out to physicians, ERs, non-government organizations and work sites," said Morrison.

"That is being sent out today."

Hanlon said he has had little success trying to refer people to the provincial service, and he wants to meet with provincial officials to try to resolve the problem.

The province took over the service April 1 because it felt it could run it more efficiently and provide a second location. The second clinicopened at Harbourside Family Health Centre in Summerside Tuesday,becoming the first needle exchange centre that city has had.