In New Jersey’s Camden County—which ranks ninth among the state’s municipalities for HIV cases—a needle-exchange program is struggling to reduce new infections among intravenous-drug users, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports (philly.com, 1/30).
In 2006, New Jersey legalized needle-exchange programs to reduce the spread of blood-borne illnesses among IV-drug users. An Atlantic City exchange—operating out of an HIV counseling center—has registered 170 users in a state-mandated database since it opened its doors in November. Similar exchanges are set to open in Paterson and Newark.
Camden’s program, however, operates out of a single blue van due to a lack of funding. Kim McCargo, director of the program, says that financial difficulties make it difficult for her and other volunteers to spread program awareness.
“It’s discouraging,” McCargo told the Inquirer. “We really need more money to let people know that using clean needles can save lives.”
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Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
