However, TaNPUD said this should not be interpreted the network is promoting the usage of drugs.
“The reality is that drug abusers and addicts cannot stop the practice within a day and they therefore need to be taught on the best ways of administering the drugs illegal as they are, to reduce contraction of deadly diseases like HIV/Aids and Hepatitis B,” noted TaNPUD Coordinator, Happy Assen.
She was keen to caution against social stigmatization of drug addicts arguing that they are not common criminals, a general misconception in most communities in the country.
“If we positively interact with such groups, we have a chance to educate them on the dangers of administering drugs and the safe way of doing it and slowly they begin to reject the practice,” she explained.
She was speaking during the screening of a film that is meant to raise awareness on the implementation of harm reduction, a comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention strategy for people who use drugs.
The awareness campaign is in line with marking the International Harm Reduction Day due to commence mid this week with expected attendance of drug users, academics, policy makers and law enforcing organs.
According to Assen, the aim of the video is to educate and provide proper education to drug users especially when it comes to needle use which in many cases leads to transmission of HIV infections and Hepatitis B.
Medicine du Monde General Coordinator, Sandrine Pont, said : “The use of drugs in East Africa is very wide and challenging as these countries are used as a gateway for drugs. So we are making sure that all drug users are safe by providing them with proper education on how to avoid been affected with diseases whenever they inject drugs.”
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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