The Canadian Coalition of Organizations Responding to Hepatitis B and C has issued a report card on Canada’s performance and found that resources are inconsistent across the country.
Co-ordination appears particularly poor in Prince Edward Island, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories and prison inmates across the country are especially vulnerable, the group says in its report.
“Governments are essentially failing in terms of the prison population,” the report says.
“There is no consistency from one institution to the next. Harm-reduction measures, resources and equipment must be available and accessible in all provincial and federal institutions.”
The report notes that besides safe-injection sites, all regions also need methadone clinics and needle exchanges.