Pubdate: Tue, 17 Nov 2015
Source: Prince Albert Daily Herald (CN SN)
Copyright: 2015 Prince Albert Daily Herald
Contact:  http://www.paherald.sk.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1918
Author: Tyler Clarke
Page: 2

STUDENTS SPARK DEBATE

Fourth-Year Nursing Students Engage Council on Transit and Needles Discussion

Outlining the health concerns related to public transit and the 
city's needle exchange, fourth-year nursing students engaged city 
council in debate.

Two groups of University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing students 
spoke at Monday's city council meeting, during which the subject of 
the city's Straight to the Point Harm Reduction" program sparked the 
usual council reaction.

"I get the brunt of the calls about needles," Mayor Greg Dionne said 
after the students' presentation.

While the students considered a needle return rate of 95 per cent a 
success, Dionne argued quite the opposite.

"That represents tens of thousands of needles left in our parks and 
playgrounds - tens of thousands of them," he said.

Between April 1, 2013, and March 31, 2014, 59,671 of the 1,203,382 
needles handed out were not returned.

During this time, Dionne reports having collected two five-gallon 
pails full of needles, which the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region 
factors into their 95 per cent of "collected" needles.

While unreturned, unsafely discarded needles remain a problem, Dionne 
expressed support for the program - albeit, support pending a resolve is found.

"It's proven that harm reduction strategies works, but what do we do 
with the tens of thousands of needles?"

Taking turns at the microphone, fourth-year nursing students 
Nastassia Anderson, Melissa Cameron, Steven Frazer and Deborah McKay 
gave the needles presentation.

"We must stress that intravenous drug users are members of our 
community and that it is our duty and responsibility to not only 
identify, but also break down barriers that limit access to health 
care regardless of one's lifestyle," they encouraged.

"With your support, together we can build a safer and healthier community."

The other group of nurses to present on Monday - Ashley Swan-Gareau, 
Chantelle Paul, Amber Hein and Ashley Martin - stressed the 
importance of public transit.

Their research included 44 informal surveys, which revealed that 
public transit users want greater service.

Responding to their presentation, Coun. Martin Ring admitted that the 
topic of public transit is not one that the city's elected officials 
thing about often enough.

One idea brand new to city council was the idea of a "dial-a-bus" 
system, which Ring expressed an interest in learning more about.

Transit is one of many ongoing issues that council is poised to make 
a financial decision about during this week's 2016 budget meetings, 
set to take place Thursday and Friday at City Hall.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom