Help in giving Heads Up for Scott County IN Public Nursing Program

[patra_]

I wish to post a general 'heads up' note to people in the So. Indiana area to find someone knowledgeable with Scott County Public Health Nursing Service. Someone recently on an NPR program discussed an HIV outbreak in that County. The discussion was concerning a limited time needle exchange for IV drug users and getting the users tested for HIV. I want someone to find someone in authority to ask them to extend that testing to include HepC.

I wish to say I asked MedHelp if it was okay to post this on the HepC Forum.  I am strongly moved to reach out and THIS community is the best chance I see of getting to the right people as soon as possible.

MedHelp Admistrators were very gracious, not only giving permissing but in furhishing other links of interest concerning this outbreak and how and where to find HVC help in Indiana.

Since I have never lived in IN, I believe my best bet is to post the message and ask heppers in that are to please contact that Public Health Nursing service.  If ther is ther much Iv drug useage going in, HepC cannot be far behind.

After reviewing my request they have found some links that may find helpful: One link is to a document listing HepC testing sites in Indiana and a would be welcome to share this link in the forums. Unfortunately this list is from 2006 so it might be helpful to suggest members call first before going to make sure the site information (address, etc) is current.

Here is the link: http://www.in.gov/isdh/files/IndianaResourceDirectory2006.pdf

Another, If you would like to try contacting the IN state health department, try calling them at the number listed here: http://www.in.gov/isdh/23968.htm

Additionally they  found a few other links to articles that  may find helpful or interesting that are related to the NPR story I heard.

http://www.newsandtribune.com/opinion/hayden-hiv-outbreak-only-part-of-a-rural-health-crisis/article_1737c30c-d63e-11e4-93a4-b3170d3fbc93.html (only 1st page is visible)

http://harmreduction.org/blog/injecting-opana-indianas-hiv-outbreak-and-americas-opioid-epidemic/

Hope this is helpful.  As a last note, if family or friends live there, please ask them to get themselves tested, and to have conversations with their relatives and friend ps who are, or might be IV Drug users.  The time to stop HepC is befor it happens, if we can.

God Bless all.

Pat

[Dee1956]

Patra, I just say this, thank you so much for sharing this information.
I agree, it is just awful what is happening

[AWorriedMom]

Forgot about the email rule. Here is alink to all the coordinators:

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/Partners/HepatitisCoordsList.htm

[AWorriedMom]

What a wonderful and caring thing you did. Here is something else you might add. Last I knew the adult viral hepatitis CDC coordinator in Indiana is Brittany Gross. She shold be helpful to people who live in her state.

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