Without new funding the needle exchange will not reopen. (CBC)

The planned shutdown of P.E.I.'s needle exchange has the province's deputy chief health officer worried about the spread of hepatitis C and AIDS.

For the last five years the program, run by AIDS PEI in Charlottetown, has handed out about 500 syringes a week. But a lack of funding is forcing the program to shut down, at least for January. If no new funding is found the program may be finished for good.

AIDS PEI is the only provincial AIDS organization in Atlantic Canada that doesn't get money from a provincial government.

Dr. Lamont Sweet, P.E.I.'s deputy chief health officer, told CBC News Wednesday there are 550 cases of hepatitis C on P.E.I., with about 40 new cases every year. He worries that number will climb if the needle exchange program ends.

"It would really be a big step backwards if the program could not be maintained," said Sweet.

"With all of the hepatitis C that we have here, of course, that would be the major fear that we'd have. But we've also got AIDS and hepatitis B about which we'd have concerns."

A difficult job

Staff at AIDS PEI say it's emotionally draining to run the program, and to see the drug users struggling, but say things would be worse without a needle exchange.

Mark Hanlon wants to see provincial funding. (CBC)

"Once this service is no longer available to them, they're going to go out on the street," said Mark Hanlon, executive director of AIDS PEI.

"They're going to start purchasing their needles from people who have already used that syringe. They're going to be finding syringes, they're going to reuse them. They might start using syringes that they've found on the ground, anything to get the drug into their system."

"It's really hard to watch sometimes," added Troy Perrot, client liaison co-ordinator.

"It's one of the hardest parts of the job, but on the other side of the coin you know you're really helping someone."

The City of Charlottetown provided $5,000 for the program this year, but those funds are almost gone and the group is hoping the province will step up.

"We would prefer that the province get involved and be a little more proactive in helping us reach that population," said Hanlon.

Health Minister Doug Currie won't talk about what the province might offer, but said he plans to meet with the group later this week.

"We're looking forward to looking at what their needs are and ask them to present us to what they see as their priorities as we work at enhancing the partnership," said Currie.

Hanlon said it's a stressful time for AIDS PEI and for the people it helps. The group hopes some kind of new funding can be found, but until that happens clients are being told the needle exchange program won't be available in January, and there is no schedule for when it might reopen.