Recent statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveal that there are around 680,000 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) and around 400,000 to 900,000 injecting drug users (IDU) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. In addition, statistics also refer to a large number of non-injecting drug users that face the risk of becoming injecting drug users, therefore increasing their risks of needle/syringe sharing, and making them more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS transmission and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or blood-borne diseases. According to the WHO, sharing needles and syringes is one of the most important modes of transmission of HIV and other STIs in many areas.
Harm reduction initiatives are proven measures that have been adopted by the international community to limit the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other infections among drug users.
These strategies have demonstrated their effectiveness in limiting the number of casualties among drug users, in addition to the counseling centers that respect the key concepts according to the following:
- Reduce infection transmission through the sharing of syringes among drug users - not only to avoid the behavior itself, but also to focus on the possibility of achieving the main targets through limiting HIV/AIDS prevalence. In addition, progressing towards long term targets such as limiting the use of drugs, as well as focusing on the implementation of all the articles of the human rights declaration, without discrimination against drug users.
- The adoption of several harm reduction strategies aims at working on different levels and in a consecutive approach in order to ensure that the target is reached, starting from schools and universities to reach politicians and decision makers.
- Engage drug users in the planning and implementation of prevention projects that affect them.
- In order to limit the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other infections among drug users in the region, the WHO Regional Office, in cooperation with the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA), launched the MENAHRA project (Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association). The project is funded by the Swiss Foundation Drosos to mitigate the risks in the MENA region and to implement harm reduction strategies in the use of drugs. It consists of three Knowledge Hubs:
- Lebanon (SIDC) covering Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Yemen, and the GCC countries.
- Morocco (Ar-Razi hospital) covering Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya.
- Iran (Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies) covering Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
The MENAHRA headquarters are in Lebanon (SIDC), and the network includes the three resources and training centers, in addition to individuals, institutions, and associations dealing with this issue. The project aims to support civil society initiatives in the region through different activities and programs related to harm reduction.
In this context, MENAHRA’s by-laws have been modified to include a number of items adapted to the reality in the Middle East and North African countries.
MENAHRA is planning to organize the First Regional Conference on Harm Reduction in November 2009, in order to define the strategies of harm reduction for the region, explain them, and encourage their adoption. The conference is anticipated to host around 300 professionals and academics engaged in, or interested in adopting, harm reduction strategies.
The conference will include several presentations and lectures accounting experiences and strategies of harm reduction that have been adopted worldwide. Many associations, institutions, networks, and individuals will be invited to attend this conference, in addition to the regional UN offices and other official authorities working on harm reduction, HIV/AIDS, and drugs.
The conference will have the following direct and indirect benefits:
1- Helping to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS infections on the regional level - especially among injecting drug users who represent one of the most vulnerable groups to HIV/AIDS.
2- Facilitating the adoption of opioid substitution therapy in Lebanon (which will be introduced during the conference). Experiences from other countries that have adopted this strategy will be presented, including the successes and the challenges.
3- Adopting the human rights declaration in general, and the rights of drug users in particular, in addition to the launching of the harm reduction strategy as a general health issue.
4- Promoting the economic development on the national level since it will attract a number of people from several countries to Lebanon.
Finally, I would like to thank you for all your efforts in the service of humanity.
Elie AarajDirector
SIDC
MENAHRA