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Prevention Works! Mobile Outreach Unit outside town hall meeting in DC
Prior to 1998, needle exchange in DC was null and void. Congress had passed a law prohibiting non-profit and private organizations from using their funds to support needle exchange in the DC. When the law changed, Prevention Works! swung into action. Prevention Works! is a private organization whose mission is to curb the spread of HIV and other blood-borne diseases among intravenous drug users and their sex partners. Prevention Works! visits cites around the city doing HIV testing, workshops, case management counseling and needle exchange. Their Mobile Outreach Unit was recently on hand at the Town Hall Meeting outside of Hominy Restaurant in Northwest DC. They serve one and all who ask for help. Recently there has been a slow but steady increase of people between ages 25-39 year olds asking to be tested. "We're finding that the younger people are more open to the prevention, getting condoms, etc. where the older groups are more or less reluctant to take condoms or have a conversation about sex," says Willie RIngold, Clinical Director at Prevention Works! .
This city funded organization works with a staff of 12 full and part time workers and a plethora of volunteers but it's not always easy. "The individuals are reluctant to hear the message. They are very skeptical about talking about AIDS. People don't want to talk about this disease." states Ringold. The stigma of HIV also prevents people from opening up about the disease. It is a crisis that often falls into the elephant in the room syndrome. People know it's there but they don't talk about it.
The triumphs of Prevention Works! come from the services that they provide. Delivering clean syringes to residents in their home is big step in the direction of reducing the infection rate. Mr. Ringold touts "We have a 90% return rate. One of the things we say to individuals is 'we give you clean syringes; we want you to give them back'. People are bringing them back." They ask no questions except to find out how many syringes the person needs until Prevention Works! returns to them again. There is also condom distribution services where volunteers happily give away condoms (for men and women), lubrication gel packs, and information on Prevention Works! in a discrete package. They provide drug treatment referrals, Harm Reduction education and training, overdose prevention, support groups, and Hepatitis C referrals.
Wanna know how to support this organization and help reduce the spread of HIV in the city? Spread the word about Prevention Works! and the fight to reduce the HIV infection rate in DC. You can offer a donation of money or time by visiting their website at www.preventionworksdc.org.
Get tested. Get care. Get a condom.
Comments
Perhaps DC's unwilliness to distribute clean needles and condoms is why DC has one of the highest rates of HIV Aids. Since the Nations policies have changed and not allowed appropriations for drug treatment than giving out nettles and condoms is a small way to help prevent the spread of disease. It may take some time to change the way people feel about being tested but until we do the least we can do is provide this simple service.
I agree with Donna in that this is a way to help prevent the spread of diseases by IV users.
As an Epidemiologist, it is my life's work to try to understand, contain, and wipe out these diseases. So I am all for this kind of program. It would be even better if it was enhanced with a drug rehab component. Still, keeping people alive long enough to help them get clean should be job #1.
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