Pubdate: Fri, 25 Mar 2011 Source: Chatham Daily News, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2011 OSPREY Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx Website: http://www.chathamdailynews.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1627 Author: Diana Martin, The Daily News REACHING OUT TO AID CHATHAM-KENT Education on blood borne diseases such as HIV and Hepititis 'C' isn't all the AIDS Support Chatham-Kent outreach program offers. It also gives back a little dignity. "We have the opportunity to address other needs and these are the needs that aren't being met," said Karyn O'Neil, director of community and resource development at AIDS Support C-K. "Whether it's more education or whether it's shampoo, it empowers them to take care of themselves." O'Neil hopes it also helps them to ask if for information on local addiction centres. O'Neil and needle exchange coordinator Thom Maxwell have combined forces to inform local sex trade workers and intravenous drug users throughout Chatham-Kent about HIV, Hep 'C' and other blood borne diseases while giving them a bridge to other services available to them. "A lot of time, people who are using needles, they're invisible," said O'Neil after her presentation to the Kiwanis Chatham-Kent Golden 'K' Thursday. "We have the opportunity to address other needs that weren't being met until we went out into outreach and discovered that people aren't accessing services," said O'Neil. She realized some of the women she met were not connecting with the other community services AIDS Support C-K partners with that could help, so they designated Thursdays as women's day drop in. In an effort to help bridge the gap they offer a warm meal, a speaker twice a month, informal life counselling and a clothing closet. Needle exchange has also offered her some unique moments that keep her going. O'Neil relates a story of a young man who came in two weeks ago for the needle exchange. She learned he'd never used a needle and after an hour of educational counselling the man left with an appreciative handshake, but no needles. "I was in the right place at the right time, and so was he," said O'Neil. "I don't think it's a moment that's going to happen very often for me, but it gave me every reason to be there." The needle exchange is a confidential program allowing users to get a clean needle for a dirty one. O'Neil said by being responsible for supplying products to keep users safe they also require the user to be responsible to themselves and the community they live in by ensuring needles are disposed safely. Education in the community about what to do when they find a needle is also key. She said the public should call police or call them to have it disposed of safely. But, she added, the outreach is not there to police drug users. "Confidentiality is huge, we need for our clients to trust us. We're definitely not seen as the police; we're seen as help," said O'Neil. "If we can go out and reach these people then we can also provide them with the support they need, the education and the tools to keep themselves safer." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.