A recent #ETAF grant supports AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts’ Needle Exchange Program (NEP). The funds will help AIDS Action purchase syringes, prevention supplies, and rapid hepatitis C tests. With this support, the organization will continue to provide Injection Drug Users (IDUs) with the proven, evidence-based intervention of syringe exchange in averting new #HIV and hepatitis C infections and fatal overdoses, while simultaneously improving health outcomes of active injection drug users. In the past fiscal year, the NEP distributed 142,590 syringes and collected 113,378 used syringes for safe disposal in the Boston, Massachusetts area. This high rate of return illustrates AIDS Action’s ability to connect with a hard to reach population and build relationships that benefit individual and public health. An NEP client says, “The Needle Exchange helps a lot of people — preventing HIV and hep C and keeping people safe. The first time I came into the Exchange I was sick and the staff helped me get into a program. They really care about us.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 16:30:07 +0000