The Medicine Hat branch of HIV Community Link is well known as the Medicine Hat Cares Centre.
The primary focus of our Medicine Hat location is our harm reduction services that include a needle exchange program.
In 2014 the clinic provided over 200,000 syringes along with other safer injecting supplies. Many people come to the Medicine Hat location stop to chat or grab a few basic food items to help during tough times.
We also offer referrals to other services within the community including counseling, access to phones, internet, information on sexually transmitted infection, hepatitis C, HIV, and much more.
Outreach work raises awareness about clinic and the services we provide to at risk populations and the community at large. We also share presentations and information to service providers and other community groups when requested.
Most recently, starting in August 2015, a fully trained registered nurse from our Brooks location will be joining us once a week for overdose prevention training using the drug naloxone, a fast-acting, safe, and proven opioid overdose reversing medication.
With the recent spiral of overdose deaths in Alberta due to the opioid drug, fentanyl, reaching crisis proportions, a new program has been launched to help save lives. People can learn how to stop overdose from fentanyl and other opioids using these naloxone kits.
Training is open to people who use drugs, friends, family members, and caregivers.
For more information, please refer to our Medicine Hat page on this website here: MEDICINE HAT HIV COMMUNITY LINK