Harm Reduction Unit
Setting practical strategies and interventions with the aim to reduce negative consequences associated with drug use.
These strategies and interventions are being implemented in accordance with the public health policies. They have been designed to minimise the negative social or physical consequences associated with various human behaviours.
Harm reduction benefits people who use drugs, their families and the community in general. The programme is based on the following interventions:
- Needle and Syringe Programme (NSP)
- Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) and Other Evidence-Based Drug Dependence Treatment
- HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC) for all clients in the Harm Reduction Program
- Patients on Anti-Retroviral (ARV) Treatment are referred to CDCU to specialist clinics; for management of HIV and/or viral hepatitis, follow-up and tracing
- Condoms are distributed within the community
- Prevention, treatment and screening of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) are available
- Targeted Information, Education and Communication (IEC) for people who use drugs and their sexual partners (including abscess prevention, condoms use tec.) are provided
- Other harm reduction interventions
- Naloxone administration
- Management of abscess