Marshall County Health Administrator Christine Stinson asked the county commissioners this week to apply for a grant to help test known IV users for Hepatitis C.
She explained that the Indiana State Association of County and City Health Officers offered mini grants in the amount of $2,500 to be used at the discretion of the applicant’s choice. Stinson said she submitted a request for a year-long grant to help test IV drug users for Hepatitis C.
“What is the general health of that population? Our STI clinic is going very well and we’re testing a lot of people in Marshall County for Hepatitis C. We just don’t have that one segment that we’re getting any people in for testing and that’s kind of a dangerous population to overlook,” said Stinson.
Stinson said she will work with the Bowen Center and Marshall County Community Corrections to forward vouchers to former and current known IV drug users to get tested for Hepatitis C. A $10 gift card will be given to those who are tested as an incentive to help the health department in their assessment and assistance.
She said the county does have a relatively low rate of Hepatitis C, but she wants the health department to be aware of additional cases to assess health safety standards in that population.
The application has already been sent in, but the grant announcement has not yet been made. The commissioners unanimously approved the application request.
