The Appalachian Media Institute, a division of Appalshop Inc., has been working in collaboration with USAP in an effort to establish a Needle Exchange Program, combating the spread of Hepatitis C. Former AMI students Jaydon Tolliver, Tristin Cunniff, Oakley Fugate, and Dustin Hall have been working for two months on a social media campaign in an attempt to heighten awareness of the rising epidemic rates of Hep C in our region. Our neighbor, Hazard KY. is poised to be the next hot bed of Hep C infections and deaths in the country, taking after Scott County, Indiana who had an outbreak in 2015-16. The Center For Disease Control says that Hazard being at such risk puts the surrounding area in vulnerable position.
This goes beyond a moral stance, this is a community effort. The CDC's recommended needle Exchange has historically worked well, when implemented correctly. We as a community could really use this program. Letcher County USAP does not yet have a meeting set up with the Letcher County Board of Health, nor a fiscal plan, but what we can do to to help is show our support. We call upon you to the spread the word of these efforts and ask that you sign our petition. We NEED an NEP. With your support of our efforts we can help the community in a larger way. We must take action and protect our communities from harm. Danger does not discriminate. Promote safe communities. Find us and our petition at Letcher County Harm Reduction on Facebook.
