Theme: Models of Care Year: 2024
Background: Most harm reduction programs provide generalized, non-differentiated healthcare to people who inject drugs (PWID). While limited funding is the main driver of this, the one-size-fits-all approach does not account for gender, age, diversity, and sub-groups within the community.
Description of intervention: We developed a differentiated model of care premised on gender, age, and diversity mainstreaming approach. This approach helped us provide tailored services to sub-groups of the PWID community. Of importance, when tailored services for 722 women who inject drugs in Johannesburg Health District commenced, the imperatives of going beyond providing healthcare became more evident.
Effectiveness: Through the existing harm reduction program, we provided differentiated services for women who inject drugs encompassing dignity packs, tailored counseling, motivational interviewing, and emergency relief support. We further provided empowerment services, including training on assertiveness, coping skills, and resiliency as well as vocational skills to enable women who inject drugs to generate an income. Following capacity building, women have been able to assess the quality of care and make recommendations for program optimization. Women recommended that the program actively include linkage and navigation to social welfare services to address the social determinants of health. They have also advocated for tailored services for children of PWID. Hence, tailored healthcare for HIV/TB-exposed children and food parcels for the children are being provided, while educational requirements are being explored.
Conclusion and next steps: To provide a service that is more relevant to women who inject drugs, the harm reduction program has started to explore a service package that goes beyond healthcare to encompass social care. Empowerment actions will be strengthened, the needs of children of PWID identified and responded to through appropriate social care and welfare interventions.
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