FORT WAYNE — In an unexpected 2-1 vote Monday, May 16, the Allen County commissioners affirmed the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health plan to start a county needle exchange program.

The plan will now go before the state health commissioner for final approval.

“The biggest thing is we have to get the state on board with this, so we will petition them, write a formal letter requesting that we be allowed to move forward with a syringe services program,” Health Commissioner Dr. Deborah McMahan said.

Once the health department gets the go-ahead from the state, McMahan said staff will begin finding funding sources and the grant-writing process to secure the necessary equipment for the program. McMahan said she hopes to have the program operational by July.

“It depends on how quickly the state moves and how quickly we’re able to mobilize our funds to get the equipment,” McMahan said. “The training has already happened with the staff that’s going to be involved, Park Center is already working with us in our facility, so I don’t think it will be a major disruption, just a matter of getting the state approval and the equipment.”

Park Center is a nonprofit mental health agency.

Space for the program would be provided by Northeast Indiana Positive Resource Connection, a social service agency for residents with HIV.

Source: Journal Gazette