Syringe Dispensing Machines:
Although vans cause attraction within injectors, mobile vans still do not address people suffering from stigma or people who wish to remain anonymous from fear of being identified. Essentially, the best way to solve this problem is through syringe dispensing machines. These machines operate automatically by exchanging new needles with used ones for either a coin or for free. In an article by Islam and Conigrave, it states that “these are automatic commercial dispensing machines that exchange new for used syringes, or provide sterile equipment for a coin or free-of-cost” (22). Furthermore, these machines are also very helpful when the mobile van’s hours of service are over. Since the proposed hours of service are from 9:00 pm to 2:00 am, people who wish to obtain clean syringes after 2:00 am may do so anonymously. These dispensing machines may be located at the same place where the vans will be stopping, however, at the opposite side of the block so that people living with HIV/AIDS stigma may not be seen in case they need to obtain needles during the hours that the vans are operating. Although one may argue that there was no point in establishing mobile vans if there are going to be dispensing machines, the incentives that are associated with participating in the syringe exchange program may play a big role in people’s participation.
photo credited to: http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/hah/9.2/images/exr01_fig03b.jpg
