Health officials are worried that the elevation in the number of central Vancouver Island residents suffering from Hepatitis C will result in subsequent rise in number of HIV infected patients. It is therefore being said that the addicts should be provided with clean needles and crack pipes.

This indication of the approaching increase in HIV infected people was highlighted by Dr. Lorna Medd, who is a Medical Health officer with the Vancouver Island Health Authority.

It has been known that the rate of HIV in the central Vancouver Island was 4.9 cases per 100,000 in 2008. This figure was fairly below the provincial rate of 7.9, stated BC Centre for Disease Control. However, on the other hand as compared to 55.8 in 2008, the rate of Hepatitis C was the highest in the province at 87.6.

Elaborating on the plans that have been sketched by VIHA are the efforts to include sterile needles and other drug paraphernalia that will be made available at front-line health care centers.

The conclusive selections are yet to be made but it is known that about 12 sites in Nanaimo have been picked out. Medd also opined that for ensuring a dip in the infected HIV patients, better means of harm reduction and safety are needed.