The battle to prevent HIV in drug users is ramping up at the Northwestern Health Unit. Public Health Nurse Kim Elke says the region is facing a major HIV outbreak. On the flip side, she says the health unit is seeing a positive increase in users injecting with clean needles. She also says that the health unit has cocaine and crack kits to prevent transmission by snorting. Elke says that the region is also facing chlamydia rates that are 3 to 4 times higher than the provincial average.Thursday, October 24, 2013
NWO Sees HIV & Chlamydia Rates Increase
The battle to prevent HIV in drug users is ramping up at the Northwestern Health Unit. Public Health Nurse Kim Elke says the region is facing a major HIV outbreak. On the flip side, she says the health unit is seeing a positive increase in users injecting with clean needles. She also says that the health unit has cocaine and crack kits to prevent transmission by snorting. Elke says that the region is also facing chlamydia rates that are 3 to 4 times higher than the provincial average.