KCHD harm reduction program wins Red Ribbon Award
The health department’s harm reduction program received the Red Ribbon Award from Charleston’s Living AIDS Memorial Garden. The award was presented at a Dec. 1 World AIDS Day observance in Charleston.
According to Christine Teague, program director of the Ryan White Program at CAMC, “testing, harm reduction and syringe service programs are important in our continued fight against AIDS and HIV. Harm reduction programs include clean syringe equipment, primary care and contraception services, access to and training for naloxone and addiction treatment linkage.”
The health department holds a harm reduction clinic each Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Dr. Michael Brumage, executive director and health officer, said he and the KCHD staff are proud of receiving the Red Ribbon Award.
“Opioids are the epidemic of epidemics,” Brumage said. “It’s the worst epidemic I’ve seen in my 25-year medical career. Receiving the Red Ribbon Award shows the community supports our harm reduction program.”