Needle Exchange Van Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Today Delaware dedicated a new needle exchange van fully equipped to serve injection drug users at risk in the City of Wilmington.

Since February, Brandywine Counseling, the contracted vendor for the Division of Public Health, has been using two small vans, including an ambulance donated from Wilmington’s Public Safety Department. Now, with the new 2007 Ford E450 van with a "Utilimaster" body, we'll be able to carry more supplies, and offer people more privacy and more services.

A client who wants to exchange needles will come to the door of the van. Inside the door is a container where they can drop their used needles. Staff will sit inside the door to dispense syringes and first aid kits. If the client wants to get tested or wants counseling, they will step into the back of the van, where there is seating and a table. Supply cabinets give us ample space to store first aid kits, personal sharps containers for clients, safe sex kits, and HIV testing materials. There are also restroom facilities. We expect that with this better privacy and safety, we will now see even more participants, and greater willingness to access more services like HIV testing.

At today’s dedication ceremony at Delaware Health and Social Services’ Herman Holloway Campus, several key figures spoke about the program. Director of Public Health Dr. Jaime Rivera called the program “incredibly successful. It’s the result of ten years of planning and pushing to make this happen, and we finally got it done.” Senator Margaret Rose Henry, who was primarily responsible for getting the bill passed, thanked everyone who helped convince the community it needed to happen. “Our goal is to have the best five years ever so that we can show the rest of the state this is a good thing, we need to do it statewide,” she said.

BCI Director of HIV Prevention Basha Closic recognized her Needle Exchange team: Rochelle Booker, Sharon Brown, Claudette Bell, Dianna Dorsey, Morris Gardner, and Lolisa Gibson. “Day in and day out they sit with people and they counsel them about the importance of taking a HIV test and knowing their status, and if they are positive, not infecting another person and taking responsibility. Those conversations are really hard to have, especially with strangers. These people have really, really amazing personalities and spirits. This who you hired to carry out the job.”

Delaware HIV Consortium Executive Director Peter Houle reminded us of how AIDS has left an indelible mark on Delaware and on the world over the past 25 years. He described how Delaware has become a model for other states in HIV service delivery, and now this pilot program has enhanced our already nationally acclaimed continuum of care.

The van was dedicated to the late Dr. Robert Jackson of the Division of Public Health, who was recognized at the ceremony for his strong support of needle exchange and advocacy for HIV prevention. The ribbon was cut by Senator Henry. Participants then had the chance to tour the van.

The van makes weekly stops to four sites in Wilmington, with more soon to be added. Since startup, we've enrolled over 140 clients, and they have exchanged over 1,800 needles. We've referred 31 clients to alcohol, mental health, or drug treatment centers for further treatment. Our goal is to enroll 200 clients by February 2008.

To view more pictures of the van and the dedication ceremony, click here.

BCI is truly grateful to have this van. We will continue to provide high quality, safe services for this five year pilot program and beyond. What a long way we've come in ten years!