NWT turns to vending machines to distribute HIV tests, Naloxone kits, hygiene products

The government of the northwestern regions is starting a different type of vending machine for communities in the region. They are called health boxes and provide free health supply to the public.

HIV self-test kits, condoms, pregnancy tests, naloxone kits, toothbrushes and toothpastes are all items that can be found in these boxes, Kami Kandola, Chief Public Health Officer for NWT, said that like a vending machine, all users need to choose the product, and the item will be sent to the brown pepper bag.

Since machines are located in publicly accessible areas, the paper bag helps maintain the privacy of the user, Kandola explained. Everything remains anonymous because no ID is required to use health boxes.

Health items are not the only thing that supply these machines.

They also have the information posted on them to direct people at 811, a number that connects people to 24/7, licensed registered nurses. And information about other services available to users is on their screen.

In addition, boxes provide information about products in machines, such as instructions to use items.

Candola said that machines are a reaction by the regional government to public health concerns such as the outbreak of syphilis declared in 2019, drug poison and reproductive health supply, said Kandola.

“When we are looking at these conflicts, our communities are experiencing,” he said. “We realized that there is a vending machine that can provide free and personal access to the necessary health and well -being … a great step will be a great step to add dots.”

Currently two machines operate; more to come

Before installing machines, public health worked with communities and indigenous organizations to determine the best place for boxes and the type of product communities was most needed, Kandola explained. This means that one machine in one community can carry various products compared to the machine located in another area.

Sean Rourke, a clinical neurocycologist and director of Reich Nexus, the health box -making organization said that machines help reduce the stigma around reaching health products.

“We really designed them to say, listen, these are things you need to take care of. We are going to get you,” Rourke said. “Whatever they want can take it. It is all independent.”

The two health boxes are currently running in NWT and running: one in the SportsPlex of Behchokǫ̀ and the other at He Hunr Community Center.

Inuvik Airport, Midnight Sun Complex and Yelonife Public Library will have working machines in the upcoming weeks.

A second health vending machine will be installed in Yelonife, Kandola said, but one place has not yet been determined.

The government of Northwest Territies is also planning to keep more machines in one and two or three areas in the region.

Machines are part of a three -year project. If they prove popular, the public health health boxes can be replaced with a more cost -effective model, such as regular vending machines are stocking with the same supply, Kandola said.