How do we reduce the rate
of HIV and Hepatitis C infections? – Summary of key actions
- Make safe and clean injecting equipment available 24 hours a day, seven
days a week. - Locate an Automatic Dispensing Machine near the staffed Needle Syringe
Program outlet at Redfern Community Health Centre. CCTV and lighting will
cover the area. Staff will check and restock the machine daily. Information
about safe disposal and drug and alcohol services will be promoted on the
machine. - Seek to expand the availability of Automatic Dispensing Machines within
the region. A machine has been installed at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. There
are about 150 machines across NSW. Other machines are at Marrickville, Concord
and Surry Hills. - Promote easy and effective waste management by co-locating a Sharps
Waste Disposal Bin with the Automatic Dispensing Machine and working with City
of Sydney Council and NSW Housing to install more community waste disposal bins
and conduct more checking and cleaning of public areas, specifically to collect
sharps. The fitpacks dispensed by the machine contain a safe waste disposal
box. - Promote needle clean up hotline numbers.
- Work with local pharmacies and non-government agencies to provide additional locations where equipment
can be accessed and used equipment can be safely disposed. - Reduce public injecting by the use of lighting, CCTV and health promotion
activities. Provide information about the Medically Supervised Injecting
Centre. Promote services for drug treatment and rehabilitation. - Increase collaboration between government and non-government human services
to reduce drug use. A new regular Human Services Group will meet monthly under
the leadership of NSW Health and NSW Police. - Establish a committee of local people and agency representatives to
monitor the implementation and evaluation of the operational and waste
management plans. This committee will report publically within 12 months. - Seek to expand the availability of staff at the Needle and Syringe
Program at Redfern Community Health Centre. - Provide a community first point-of-contact for health
related issues. Staff member has now been appointed.
Source: Circulated to Sydney Local Health District Community Meeting on 29 January 2013 at the Redfern Health Centre.