WATCH: Drug users want suspended programme reinstated

THE South African Network of People who Use Drugs (SANPUD) held a peaceful protest against the temporary suspension of the distribution of sterile needles and syringes to injecting drug users in Durban, from Bulwer Road to the TB HIV Care Centre on Tuesday.

According to the Network, the programme was suspended while it applies for a trade permit which is currently in process.

A stricter auditing system has also been requested so that there is closer tracking of the needle and syringes for the purpose of putting in place an improved return rate of used needles and syringes.

TB HIV Care met with the eThekwini Department of Health and agreed to comply with the by-laws with the full expectation that this would then automatically lead to the reinstatement of the Needle Syringe Programme (NSP) service.

However, no confirmation has been given that compliance with the bylaws will allow for the resumption of the service.

The NSP programme run by TB HIV Care has been operational since 2015 and has a recorded return rate of roughly 80 per cent of needles and syringes that are distributed.

This is an extremely high return rate if compared with similar programmes that run throughout the world and are recommended by the World Health Organisation as a means for reducing the onward transmission of HIV and other blood borne illnesses.

ALSO READ: Durban drug therapy project is changing lives for the better

Malusi Mbatha, chairman of the KZN Network of People who Use Drugs, said: “This is also an internationally recognised programme for reducing the harms related to drugs. Without access to clean needles and syringes, injecting drug users revert to sharing and reusing needles, all of which have the consequence of drastically increasing the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis in the injecting drug user community. The cessation of this programme is not only likely to lead to an increased public health problem, but is also a violation of human rights. We are taking a stand today for the rights of people who use drugs and to show support for their right to clean needles and syringes.”

“Users need support and this problem can only be managed with the support of others. People need help, only then can they get their minds right and their lives on track. I was welcomed with open arms and care at the centre and I am now giving back by helping other drug users,” he said.

He said people who use drugs are a vulnerable population grouping who require specialised services such as NSP, and who should be given the same rights to health care as any other human being.

Through ceasing the NSP services to the injecting drug use community, the risk of HIV is increased and the injecting drug use community becomes further marginalised from any health care service.

“We will be handing over a petition to the Mayor requesting the resumption of the NSP by TB HIV Care and to request her support of the project. Substance abuse leads to poverty, and if we want to make a change in Durban, we need to fight the disease of addiction which leads to other diseases,” he said.

Monique Marks from the Urban Futures Centre (UFC) at DUT which partners with TB HIV Care in conducting a hugely successful Opioid Substitution Therapy Demonstration Project in Durban, said it was not surprising that the South African Network of People Who Use Drugs had decided to embark on civic action.

While the UFC is not directly involved in the NSP project, they are in full support of all harm reduction interventions.

“The global evidence is irrefutable that NSP reduces the spread of blood borne illnesses among the injecting drug use community and also provides a highly marginalised and vulnerable grouping with direct contact with health care providers. Through this contact, drug users are referred to treatment centres for necessary treatment in regard to a range of illnesses including HIV and Hepatitis, and are also provided with much needed psycho-social services. Today’s march is about caring for vulnerable population groups,” said Marks.

She said the UFC promotes harm reduction as a mechanism for dealing with problematic drug use and is greatly concerned that the cessation of the NSP programme in Durban will lead to an increased public health and safety problem in the City. They are also concerned that various rights are being denied to a social grouping within the city who deserve to have access to all basic rights.

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