Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, December 17, 2015
(JEFFERSONVILLE) - A cash-strapped southern Indiana county that’s awaiting state approval of its proposed needle-exchange program is turning to a nonprofit foundation to run the program.
Clark County Health Department officer Dr. Kevin Burke submitted a plan to state health officials Tuesday that calls for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to fund and operate the county's needle-exchange once it obtains the state health commissioner's approval. The program is aimed at slowing the spread of HIV and hepatitis C among intravenous drug users.
Burke tells The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Kentucky that local officials turned to the Los Angeles-based nonprofit foundation because the county just north of Louisville is cash-strapped and Indiana law prohibits state funds from being used for needle exchanges.
Needle exchanges provide IV drug users with clean syringe to prevent needle-sharing that spreads diseases.
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