Canadian health minister resists WHO on safe injection sites
06.08.2008 16:01
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
The federal health minister remains opposed to safe injection sites, in contrast to the World Health Organization's supportive stance on the harm reduction approach to HIV. Tony Clement attended the launch of the WHO's how-to guide to fight HIV/AIDS at the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico City on Tuesday. At supervised safe injection sites such as Insite in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, drug users can get safe needles and cannot be arrested or prosecuted. While the WHO is committed to safe injection sites as part of harm reduction programs, Clement said the sites encourage drug use, calling them a form of "harm addiction." The organization's guidebook is designed to help low- and middle-income countries fight the pandemic, which the WHO calls "the most serious infectious disease challenge to global public health." In stating the WHO's position on safe injection sites, the documents said: "Safe injecting sites are not a new intervention but simply a repackaging of existing WHO-recommended interventions such as needle exchanges, etc. The guide includes tips on: - Distributing condoms.
- Counselling.
- Accessing tests to diagnose HIV.
The documents said that more than 6,800 people become infected daily with HIV and more than 5,700 die every day because they have no access to HIV prevention, treatment and care. On Monday, Clement pledged $45 million toward fighting the spread of HIV and AIDS in Africa. He said the funds will build on the $515 million that Canada has contributed to the international fight against the disease over the past three years. With files from Canadian PressStory Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksVancouver safe-injection site supporters pleased by court decisionAIDS ResearchYour Space: B.C.'s safe injection site External LinksHIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care in the health sector, WHO(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window) Health HeadlinesCanadian health minister resists WHO on safe injection sitesThe federal health minister repeated his opposition to safe injection sites at an international AIDS conference this week, in contrast to the World Health Organization's supportive stance on the harm reduction approach. Lyme disease controversy spreading across CanadaPatient advocacy groups contend Lyme disease is reaching epidemic proportions, but officials say there is no evidence.Better alert system sought for False Creek water pollutionVancouver Coastal Health is examining ways to better alert people about False Creek's water quality after boaters complained they were not made aware of health warnings.One cigarette can get some people hooked: studyIt may take just one tobacco cigarette for some people to get addicted to nicotice because of how their brains are wired, a Canadian study suggests.Kids in U.S. still taking cough and cold meds despite warningsAbout one in 10 children south of the border take cough and cold medications in any given week, new data shows. Health FeaturesIN DEPTHPhthalatesAre chemicals that make plastic bendy a health hazard?AIDS RESEARCHLife expectancyBig jump in survival rates for those on HIV drugsIN DEPTHLyme diseaseTiny tick, big problemANOTHER VIEWDrugs and drivingNew law a 'positive step', analyst saysHEALTH & FITNESSPeter HadzipetrosBreaking up's not that hard to doPeople who read this also read …
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