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The new chairwoman of the community HIV/AIDS resource network says hepatitis C is emerging as the new challenge for the organization. “Our direction first and foremost is to support our clients who are infected or affected by HIV-AIDS,” said Joanne Brown, chairwoman of PARN, which serves Peterborough, City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton. But hepatitis C is an emerging issue, she said. “PARN has to grow into that role and decide how we will expand to meet the hepatitis C challenge.” Last year, PARN exchanged 90 per cent of the 133,600 needles handed out to 239 contacts per month through the Four Counties Needle Exchange, said Owen McEwen, PARN’s preventive services co-ordinator.
PARN held its annual general meeting Tuesday night and elected a new board of directors for 2008. The meeting also gave the organization a chance to hear from Dr. Rosana Pellizzari. the new medical officer of health for the Peterborough County-City Health Unit. She said that in the Ministry of Health’s Central East region, which includes Peterborough, 42 per cent of new cases of HIV in 2006 were low-risk heterosexuals and 10 per cent were intravenous drug users. Cocaine has emerged as the area’s intravenous drug of choice, Pellizzari said in her first public speech as the medical officer of health. “There is a changing trend and we need to adapt.” Needle exchange programs work and they are cost effective, she said. “It’s essential to get out and connect with the community,” Pellizzari said after her presentation. “Our best opportunity for public health results is to partner with community organizations.” http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com
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