ANDERSON — The Madison County Health Department is planning to open four sites for the recently approved needle exchange program to prevent the spread of Hepatitis C and HIV in the county.
Both infections can be contracted by contact with the blood of an infected person.
In 2013 there were 70 new cases of Hepatitis C identified in Madison County, and the number increased to 130 in 2014. The current rates will match or surpass last year’s levels.
Madison County declared a public health emergency in an attempt to contain the outbreak of Hepatitis C through intravenous drug usage by the sharing of syringes.
Stephanie Grimes, public health coordinator, said Friday the intent is to open two sites in Anderson and one each in Alexandria and Elwood. The exact locations have not been finalized.
The Health Department will offer a mobile site in other areas of Madison County. Each site will be visited once a month by the Health Department staff and community partners.
Grimes said it’s estimated that half of the reported cases are in Anderson, with the remaining majority in Elwood and Alexandria.
Grimes said the Health Department hopes to have the needle exchange program operating by late July or early August.
Madison County became the second county in Indiana to receive approval for a needle exchange program after the Indiana State Department of Health officially declared a health emergency Tuesday.
State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams gave the go-ahead, which will allow the county's health center to set up a needle exchange program. Health officials hope the program will combat the spread of hepatitis C in Madison County and prevent an HIV outbreak.
Grimes said the mobile unit will be in particular zip codes in the county based on the number of cases being reported.
“We can pinpoint the areas of concern,” she said.
Grimes said the location of the sites will not be made public, but intravenous drug users will learn of them from other clients and word of mouth.
“The program is for the people who need it,” she said. “We want them to be protected sites. We don’t want people there opposed to the program or just curious onlookers."
People using the program will be given a number and identification card and have access to other services at each site, such as substance abuse treatment programs and assistance in obtaining food and housing.
“They will not be required to use any of the services,” Grimes said. “The services are being offered for when they make the decision to utilize them.”
The Health Department is partnering with Aspire Indiana, Jane Pauley Community Health Centers, the Madison County Community Health Center, St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital and Community Hospital of Anderson.
Grimes said Aspire will offer treatment programs and test for Hepatitis C and HIV.
She said if a person tests positive, he or she will be provided with a voucher for a free initial visit to the Jane Pauley Community Health Center and then be referred to an infectious disease doctor for treatment.
Those participating in the treatment programs can sign up for the Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 for health insurance coverage at the two hospitals and the Madison County Community Health Center.
There will be no cost to the county for the services being provided by the community partners, Grimes said.
“Prevention is always less expensive,” she said.
Grimes said Aspire Indiana will take over testing for Hepatitis C and HIV at the Madison County jail, men’s and women’s work release center and the minimum security facility in the next few months.
Of 30 people tested at the jail, there were seven intravenous drug users and five tested positive for Hepatitis C.
“With all the work done, we couldn’t be a this point without our community partners,” Grimes said.