At a glance
For more information on the programs offered, go to www.hopecenterconnersville.com, call 765-825-1244 or stop at the office, 531 Central Ave., enter from the alley and take the elevator to the second floor.
Fayette County residents do have access to HIV testing in the county and it’s at no cost.

Some information in a story provided by an outside news source about the possibility of Fayette County starting a clean-need program was incorrect.

Hope Center Executive Director Marla Steele said the news service that made the report likely did not have access to information that testing is offered at the center.

“I have called the county commissioners and the county Health Department and let them know of the services we do offer and let them know we accept anyone 14 years of age or older, male or female, to come in for testing,” Steele said.
 
The center had advertised that it does sexually transmitted infection testing but many people do not consider HIV or Hepatitis B and C in that category since they can often become infected through infected needles, she said. People probably do not realize those tests are offered.

A brochure has been reprinted to change the wording to read “free testing for HIV, Hep B, Hep C and sexually transmitted infections,” she said.

Scott County began a needle exchange program this winter because of the high incidence of HIV. Close to 90 percent of those with HIV have Hepatitis C infections. Fayette County has the second highest rate of Hepatitis C infection in the state behind Scott County.

In the county, from Jan. 1 through Dec. 1, 2014, there were 74 cases of Hepatitis C and this year to date, there have been 74 cases, Steele said.

The increase is likely because people have become more aware of the drug epidemic in the county, she said.

When it become known in September 2014 that there had been 20 drug overdoses in 20 days with five deaths, the community began to rally to bring awareness, offer education and try to stop the spread of drug usage.

“More people are getting tested now and so we’re finding more people have Hep C,” Steele said. “I think people are slowly starting to find out about us.”

The Hope Center opened its new medical center and began offering the testing in June of last year. Since then, she estimated 100 have received HIV tests with 15-20 percent testing positive.

The center just hired a nurse manager, Tammy Roberts, who works at the Care Pavilion, on a part-time basis through a Reid Hospital Community Benefits grant and will be in the center two days a week. A volunteer will be in the center on a third day so testing can be offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week.

“We have a relationship with Grandview Health, if a client does not have a pharmacy and the ability to get the prescription, we can go through them at low to no cost,” she said. “We have been working with Claim Aid at the hospital (Fayette Regional Health System) to help those without insurance to find affordable insurance. We also work to help them get insurance.”

She said a major effort is underway to educate the community about the services offered, including the free testing services, so they can be tested and if positive, get them treated and hopefully stop the epidemic that is in the community.

“We are seeing more drug abuse cases coming into the center, women that are pregnant and have been addicted to drugs,” she said. “We refer situations we cannot handle to the appropriate facility. We work closely with the House of Ruth and they send clients to us for testing, for parenting education, for our Healing Hearts program.”

Results of the tests at the center are sent to the Indiana State Board of Health and the Board of Health will contact the individual about treatments, make sure they receive treatment and go back for retesting, she said.

To gain approval for a needle exchange program, the county commissioners would have to approve and then gain approval from the state Board of Health. A new law approved during the recent General Assembly session approved a law to permit needle exchanges in emergencies and lays out direction for the program.
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