Pubdate: Tue, 04 Dec 2007
Source: China Post, The (Taiwan)
Copyright: 2007 The China Post.
Contact:  http://www.chinapost.com.tw
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2840

GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND NEEDLE-VENDING MACHINES TO
FIGHT  HIV/AIDS: DOH

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Department of Health (DOH) is  planning to
expand the coverage of vending machines  providing clean needles and
syringes around the island  in its bid to cut HIV/AIDS transmission, a
health  official said yesterday.

Yang Shih-yang, a section chief of the DOH Centers for  Disease
Control (CDC), made the remarks while reporting  at a meeting of the
Interior Committee of the  Legislative Yuan on the feasibility of
legislation on  alternative treatment for drug abusers. Also in
attendance were Interior Minister Lee Yi-yang and  officials from the
DOH, the Ministry of Justice and the  National Police Agency.

Yang noted that since the DOH began a program to cut  HIV/AIDS
transmission by providing clean needles and  syringes as well as
alternative treatment -- mainly  methadone therapy -- in July 2006, it
has borne fruit.

Methadone is a drug used to wean addicts off heroin.

As of October 2008, there were 1,137 outlets providing  clean needles
and syringes,and 66 medical institutions  providing alternative treatment.

Legislator Hou Shui-sheng of the ruling Democratic  Progressive Party
(DPP) suggested providing clean  needles and syringes through
additional automatic  vending machines,instead of the current channels
- --  mainly drug stores and convenience stores -- in some  cities and
counties.

Yang said the CDC is planning to do just that next  year, so that
addicts can get access to clean needles  and syringes even after the
drug stores are closed.

On misgivings about giving methadone therapy to drug  abusers, a lot
of whom are also HIV carriers, Lee said  some addicts might have to
spend more than NT$3,000  (US$93) per day for drugs, resulting in many
to resort  to crime to pay for their habits, while methadone costs
only NT$18 per day.

Statistics show that robberies were cut by 30 percent  last year, he
added.

He noted that in the future, drug prevention will move  toward the
goal of stemming the problem at its roots,  adding that the crackdown
will focus on illegal drug  manufacturing, smuggling and
cultivation.

According to DOH tallies, a total of 2,942 new HIV/AIDS  cases were
reported in 2006, compared with 3,399 cases  in the previous year,
marking the first time in 22  years that the number has fallen.

Meanwhile, the ratio of drug-addicted HIV carriers has  also decreased
from 73 percent in 2005 to 60 percent in  2006.
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MAP posted-by: Derek