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Vision
To prevent HIV transmission and to help people living with HIV/AIDS become informed, accepted and self-determined.
Mission
To recognize and respond to the stigma and challenges posed by HIV/AIDS on individuals and communities through education and support.
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Support Services
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Support Services / Harm Reduction
The "Van" is an unmarked vehicle which drives through areas known to be frequented by drug users and sex workers. One staff member and a volunteer from The AIDS Network are on duty Monday to Friday, 8 pm to midnight and are accessible by cell phone to clients wishing to make an exchange. The Van is staffed by Public Health Services and community outreach workers from partner agencies including Hamilton AIDS Network, Elizabeth Fry Society and Aboriginal Health Centre. Community volunteers are recruited and trained by The AIDS Network to accompany the staff person on the Van.
The Van provides:
- Needle exchange and disposal
- Needle clean up as requested in public areas or private property if requested by owner/police as per available staffing
- Safer injecting supplies such as sterile water, filters, ascorbic acid and filters which also prevent viral, fungal and bacterial infections in users
- Condom distribution and outreach to sex workers
- Warm clothing and cold alert checks for vulnerable clients living on the street
- Education and information
- Referrals based on readiness of clie
Needle exchange is also available at The AIDS Network, Monday to Friday 9-5. All services are confidential. Individuals wishing to use needle exchange services do not have to be clients of the AIDS Network.
Fixed Needle Exchange Sites
In addition to offering needle exchange services through a mobile Van, Public Health's community health bus and sexual health clinics, valuable partnerships have been developed with other key agencies who also distribute harm reduction supplies or provide staff support to the mobile Van including:
- Vitamins/Supplements Program - To ensure clients maintain optimum health, vitamins and supplements are provided as needed.
- The AIDS Network
- Marchese Health Care (Pharmacy)
- Wesley Urban Core Ministries
- Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre
- Aboriginal Health Centre
- Elizabeth Fry Society
- Health Initiatives for Youth
Needle exchange programs (NEPs) make good public health sense!
- NEPs reduce transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HBC) and other blood-borne pathogens among injection drug users (IDUs)
- NEPs reduce unsafe drug use and sexual behaviors associated with the transmission of HIV, HBV,HCV and other blood-borne pathogens
- NEPs reduce the number of used needles discarded in the community
- NEPs do not encourage initiation of injection drug use, do not increase the duration or frequency of injection drug use or decrease motivation to reduce drug use
- Neither a cure nor a vaccine is available for HIV
- The lifetime costs of providing treatment for IDUs living with HIV greatly exceeds the costs of providing NEP services
- At any given time, most IDUs are not receiving drug treatment
- NEPs are often the only contact IDUs have with health or social service providers
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