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Background:
People who use drugs in South Africa face numerous barriers to accessing harm reduction, treatment, and social support services including skills development. Stigmatization, limited healthcare access, and economic insecurity perpetuate health risks and hinder social reintegration. Nationally, approximately 21% of people who inject drugs (PWID) are living with HIV, and 43% have hepatitis C, both rates significantly higher than in the general population. In (Mpumalanga) Ehlanzeni District +- 800 PWUD data from Harm reduction service providers.
Method:
The program adopts a comprehensive, multi-tiered approach to harm reduction, treatment, and empowerment. Key initiatives include small-scale enterprise development, needle and syringe programs to curb transmission, opioid substitution therapy to aid recovery. The “Treat and Retain” program addresses HIV and TB testing and retention to care among PWUD, while “Harm Reduction in Motion” provides mobile services to high-risk areas. To capacitate PWUD networks on vocational skills and small-scale enterprise development support that offers economic empowerment opportunities to break the cycle of dependency.
Results:
Preliminary results demonstrated stigma and discrimination reduction, including prevention and reduction in the transmission of blood-borne diseases, increased access to health care services, heightened community engagement and involvement in harm reduction activities. Families of those on skills development program demonstrated support and encouragement to leaners. This initiative is yielding positive outcomes, with 60% participants showing increased financial stability and improved community integration.
Conclusion:
The success of these programs underscores the value of community-centered approaches, peer-driven model of care and harm reduction. These gap demand for policy alignment and funding allocation, to scale these interventions nationwide, ongoing support and integration of services is also crucial for an HIV free community by 2030. These programmes allowed PWUD to gain vocational skills that can further sustain them in future and ensuring PWUD are not only beneficiaries but active contributors to their communities.
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