Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jun 2005
Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531
Author: Chuck Poulsen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

NEEDLE EXCHANGE ALARMS NEIGHBOURS

Interior Health will open a needle exchange and first aid office on Leon 
Avenue by the middle of July

The office will be at 455 Leon, two doors west of the Kelowna Drop-In Centre

Interior Health spokeswoman Cathy Renkas said a proposal to fund the 
operation is still being prepared, and although final details aren't yet 
available, she said the office will provide a level of service beyond what 
street nurses previously offered

"They are currently putting together the proposal for additional funding, 
so we don't know at this point what the mix of services and hours will be," 
said Renkas

She also didn't yet know the hours of operation

However, she said that aside from a needle exchange, there will be nurses 
on duty to provide immunization shots, HIV testing, first aid and referral 
services. "It won't be a walk-in clinic where you would see a doctor, but 
there will be referrals to doctors or the emergency department at KGH if 
necessary," said Renkas. At least two businesses in the area aren't happy 
about the needle exchange office

"We will fight it. I'm going to phone my head office right now," said 
Corwin Giles at Lordco Auto Parts. "I've heard horror stories about what 
went on around the needle exchange on Lawrence. It was just terrible

"We spent $100,000 to make this a nice-looking store, and all these people 
do is dump on us." The fear factor for shoppers is such that even 
Temptation Tattoos, next door to the new clinic, is moving. The owner was 
not available for comment Wednesday.

Managers of two other businesses on the street said they didn't want to 
comment on the new needle exchange, although as one manager put it: "This 
is not a happy street. We're all struggling."

Interior Health has been operating a temporary needle exchange program 
since May 1 at the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Centre building on Leon, across the 
street from the new location. It's been open on Tuesday and Thursday 
afternoons.

IH moved into the Ki-Low-Na location after the Boys and Girls Club, which 
had paid street nurses to hand out needles through its outreach program, 
lost its lease on Lawrence Avenue.

The street nurses quit at that time, although at least one of them will now 
be employed at the new IH office.

Renkas said people using the office will have to bring in used needles 
before they will receive new ones.

"If they bring in one needle, they will get one new one," said Renkas. "If 
they bring in five, they will be able to take five new ones away. Some may 
bring in needles for their friends."

Selena Stearns of the Drop-In Centre says the service is badly needed.

"I'm extremely happy that there will be health services for the homeless in 
the downtown," she said. "Since the closure of the (Boys and Girls Club) 
outreach services, there have been a lot of crises, a lot of sick people 
who have needed help."

Kelowna RCMP Insp. Cam Forgues said he welcomes the needle exchange.

"If we can save people from sharing needles and prevent disease, that's 
great," said Forgues.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom