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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Nov 1988

Vol. 384 No. 7

Written Answers. - Protection against AIDS.

68.

asked the Minister for Health if he will give his response to the call from the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of his Department for a needle exchange scheme and the distribution of free condoms as outlined in a report (details supplied).

I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 96 on 10 November in relation to a needle exchange programme. As I stated in that reply one-to-one contact with drug abusers through Outreach programmes is fundamental in order to advise and educate such persons about intravenous drug abuse, AIDS and risk behaviour. Other measures such as methadone maintenance, needle exchange, and condom distribution may be effective only if a properly structured counselling programme is in place. The Department of Health is keeping all of these issues under review in the light of the implementation of the Eastern Health Board's Outreach Programme and the outcome of experience abroad. These were also the views expressed by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer in the media report referred to. The results of needle exchange programmes conducted abroad are, to date, inconclusive in relation to their capacity to reduce the spread of AIDS among drug abusers. It is relevant to note also that the EC strategy has developed in this area emphasising the key role of counselling intravenous drug abusers in relation to their life style and at risk behaviour.

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