In 2020, a drug withdrawal programme was launched at Moses Mabhida Stadium, where members of the homeless community were sheltered as the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. At the time, about 260 people elected to start methadone treatment. Now, two years later, patients continue to visit the Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre every day. In a weekly series, Berea Mail’s Danica Hansen will find out more about the programme. This week’s article focuses on an upcoming project, Bellhaven Private Care.
HEROIN use is widespread across Durban – extending beyond the homeless community. After the methadone treatment at Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre proved successful, the programme is paving the way to bring public and private methadone medical care together. Stakeholders are working to open Bellhaven Private Care, a facility that will cater to paying patients.
Currently the Methadone treatment prgramme run at Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre is only available to the homeless.
“Bellhaven Private Care will be targeted specifically at paying clients. These payments could subsidise the non-paying clients,” said Professor Monique Marks, director of the Urban Features Centre at Durban University of Technology.
The need for a private care centre came to light when members of the broader community approached Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre for assistance. Marks notes that heroine dependency extends beyond the homeless community to the middle class and upper class communities.
ALSO READ: Methadone programme transforms lives
“People think drug use is a problem of the homeless and people from low-income environments. What we’ve found is that there are a lot of middle class people who want to access Bellhaven. However, we don’t want someone who can afford treatment to take the place of someone who can’t. That’s why it’s very important to get something like Bellhaven Private Care set up,” she said.
For some patients, opioid addiction stems from the use of pain medication. Dr Mario Shonge who works in the Umbilo and Glenwood areas treats several patients with drug use disorders.
“Opioid abuse is probably one of the major pandemics we face in the world, not only in South Africa. Prescription pain medications are being sold on the black market, they are highly addictive. Opioid addiction is predominantly an unintended consequence of use in legitimate condition require high level of pain suppression. I currently treat a few patients who are currently on opioid substitution therapy,” he said.
ALSO READ: Drug-free after a 15-year battle
Private care
With the help of investors, plans to set up the private facility are in the pipeline. Local businessman, CEO for IBV International Vaults, Ashok Sewnarain, said he has taken on the role of patron and advisor for Bellhaven Private Care.
“I went to (Belhaven Harm Reduction Centre) and saw the good work they were doing, and made a donation. They were looking to develop the facility,” said Sewnarain.
The business plan for the private facility includes funding for methadone and sourcing infrastructure, as well as assembling a professional management and medical team.
“We are quite advanced in our business plan and will be launching soon. We’ve got all the pieces of the puzzle – it’s just a matter of putting the pieces together,” said Sewnarain.
ALSO READ: Fighting stigmas: drug use and healthcare
For Sewnarain, the model is a win-win, filling a gap in the market while also supporting a good cause.
“The private facility will cater to the members of our community that are earning an income, that are happy to pay for this treatment, provided it is administered professionally and with privacy and discretion. Drug addiction is a big problem in our community – in order to treat the homeless, we need to find a way to be sustainable. We can’t rely on donations alone as they are not always forthcoming,” said Sewnarain.
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