Harm Reduction Strategies to reduce HIV and Aids

Colectif Urgence Toxida (CUT) is convinced that even though that a person is consuming drugs - legal or illegal, that person have the right to stay healthy. The action of CUT is based on harm reduction strategies among people who inject drugs (PWID). The association's main activities are Needle Exchange Programs (NEP) and Advocacy.Since 2002, the incidence for HIV and AIDS among people who inject drugs started to increase, in 2005 it was 92 new cases among people who inject drug.Since 2006 there were two arm Reduction strategies which was implemented in Mauritius - namely the Methadone Substitution Therapy and the Needle Exchange Program. The main objective of theses two strategies was decrease the incidence of HIV and AIDS among people who inject drug.In 2006 we noticed that there was a decrease of 10 in the incidence of HIV and AIDS. CUT has experiences many challenges while implementing the Needle Exchange Programs, it was an issue for the community of different region due to an misunderstanding of harm reduction programs.Another impact is that we are able to provide informations to people in need. Many people do not necessarily know what is HIV and AIDS, the way it is transmitted and also the prevention measures, through outreach programs and session of informations we are able to give these informations on field to every one.CUT tends to promote the education of people who inject drugs on the best way to inject themselves in a way that they do not have other sanitary complications. The reason is that when someone go for treatment,there is a cost which is associated with with this patient, these cost come from civil society through tax, thus these action of Harm Reduction is effective for the economy.Stigmatisation and discrimination decreases. People who use drugs know their rights now, and it is easier for them to raise their voice and claim their rights where needed.CUT realises that there is much more work to be done with people who inject drugs and also with the community at large in order to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS in Mauritius. In addition CUT is promoting advocacy to help this. Our vision is to have a network of people who inject drugs in Mauritius so that they can represents themselves in Nation and international meeting in order to explain the problems that they encounter on field and give strategies on how to overcome them.