The West
Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources is partnering with the City
of Huntington and the Cabell-Huntington Health Department to announce the state’s first-ever pilot Syringe
Exchange Program (SEP) to assist with the reduction of illness/infection
within the intravenous drug-use population in Cabell County. SEPs are considered part of a Harm Reduction
Program to reduce the risk of spreading diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis
C, and HIV/AIDS.
To announce the pilot project, DHHR Cabinet
Secretary Karen L. Bowling; Dr. Rahul Gupta, Bureau for Public Health
Commissioner and State Health Officer; Huntington Mayor Steve Williams; Dr.
Michael Kilkenny, Physician Director of the Cabell-Huntington Health Department;
and Delegate Matthew Rohrbach will hold a joint press conference at 10:00 a.m.,
Thursday, July 2, in the City Council Chamber at Huntington City Hall located
at 800 5th Avenue, Huntington, WV.
DHHR: Allison.C.Adler@wv.gov; City of Huntington: chambersb@cityofhuntington.com; CHHD: Elizabeth.A.Ayers@wv.gov