Charlottetown needle exchange to continue

The P.E.I. government and City of Charlottetown are contributing funding to save the capital's needle exchange program.

The financially strapped program provides clean needles to drug users in the city, but was scheduled to close at the end of the month.

The threatened closure was a major concern for the province's acting chief health officer, who feared the spread of hepatitis.

To keep the program open, the province has stepped in with $6,000 and the city is adding $5,000. There have also been some donations from other needle exchange programs.

AIDS PEI, which runs the program, said Wednesday that while the service may have to be reduced, the program will be able to continue.

AIDS PEI hands out about 500 syringes and needles a week.