There are programs, however, around East Elmhurst such as the AIDS Center of Queens County particularly located in Long Island City, Jackson Heights, Far Rockaway, and Corona.  These programs are held in centers, meaning that IDU people have to walk to that location or use transportation.  Each location has varying hours of service but some of them such as Long Island City and Corona operate from 6-10 pm.  According to a Daily News article, so far, the program is a success with approximately “70% of syringes handed out are returned” (23).  However, the main problem in this program is the lack of centers and/or mobile vans operating within areas of high PLWA rates.  East Elmhurst, for instance, has the highest rate in terms of both cumulative AIDS rate and PLWA rate.  However, the AIDS Center of Queens County does not even acknowledge this area.  No programs associated with the AIDS Center of Queens are established here.  Within the area of West Queens, the zip code most affected by IDU is East Elmhurst in both men and women (Table 2).  Currently, no programs dedicated to the prevention of HIV/AIDS exist in East Elmhurst.  The AIDS Center of Queens County provides programs in areas that do not even have IDU percentages close to 50%. 

 

ACQC’s syringe exchange program locations and % IDU

Zip Code

Location

MaleIDU%

FemaleIDU%

11432

Jamaica

19%

12%

11101

Long Island City

23%

21%

   11691

Far Rockaway

32%

13%

11433

Jamaica

27%

26%

11368

Corona

15%

11%

 

        For instance, AIDS Center for Queens County (ACQC) offers syringe exchange programs and mobile vans in Far Rockaway when percentage is only 32% for men and 13% for women.  Meanwhile, East Elmhurst has nearly 50% of the men and 37% of the women performing IDU and no mobile van, let alone a center exists.  All the neighborhoods in which ACQC provide prevention and aid have IDU percentages which are substantially lower than those of East Elmhurst.  The ACQC is either ignorant of the current AIDS rate in East Elmhurst or it refuses to provide any help in this area.  Therefore, establishing mobile vans of syringe exchange in East Elmhurst becomes the fundamental goal in lowering PLWA rates in this area.

 

Locations on the Map: East Elmhurst

 

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