HIV\/AIDS harm reduction project launched<\/p>\n
P.C. Naommy, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The controversial harm reduction program to prevent the spread of
\nHIV\/AIDS among injecting drug users (IDUs) has been put on trial
\nin a pilot project launched on Friday.<\/p>\n
Operational head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Comr.
\nGen. Togar Sianipar said the agency would measure the success of
\nthe program based on the decline in the number of people
\ncontracting HIV\/AIDS, the number of drug users and the number of
\ndrug traffickers.<\/p>\n
\"If the program fails to meet the requirements, we will not
\ncontinue it,\" Togar said, on the sidelines of the program's
\nlaunch at the Office of the Coordinating Minister for People's
\nWelfare here.<\/p>\n
The pilot project will run for three years in Jakarta and
\nBali. It will involve local authorities, such as health offices,
\npolice, research centers and selected non-governmental
\norganizations (NGOs).<\/p>\n
The core of this program is to discourage the sharing of
\ncontaminated drug paraphernalia by providing sterile disposable
\nneedles and disinfectants, as well as providing methadone and
\nbuprenorphine as substitutes for heroin.<\/p>\n
Aside from attempting to prevent the spread of HIV\/AIDS, the
\nprogram will also provide therapy and basic health services for
\ndrug addicts.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, the community outreach arms for the program are
\nAtma Jaya University, with an information and health kiosk that
\ncovers Duren Sawit in East Jakarta, and the University of
\nIndonesia's health research center, which covers the Depok area.<\/p>\n
The project team has several working groups that will be in
\ncharge of running counseling programs, providing health services,
\nand serving drug users who want to exchange their used needles at
\nharm reduction posts.<\/p>\n
Data from the Ministry of Health in 2003 showed that injecting
\ndrug users accounted for more than 80 percent of an estimated
\n80,000 people living with HIV\/AIDS nationwide.<\/p>\n
The ministry also estimated the number of addicts injecting
\ndrugs in the country at between 124,000 and 196,000 at the end of
\n2002.<\/p>\n
\"This project is so important, we're racing against time,
\nsince more than 50 percent of the IDUs in Jakarta have contracted
\nHIV\/AIDS through sharing syringes,\" said project manager Tarmizi
\nTaher.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi, who was at one time religious affairs minister, said
\nthe situation was worsened by the fact that at least 3.94 percent
\nof Indonesia's population of 220 million are drug users.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Jakarta deputy chairman of the National AIDS
\nCommission (KPA) Izhar M. Fihir said the program was expected to
\nreach 10,000 users per year. To date, NGOs -- which set up
\nneedle-exchange programs long before the launch of the
\ngovernment-sponsored program -- have reached 3,000 injecting drug
\nusers.<\/p>\n
The harm reduction program is based on a memorandum of
\nunderstanding between the BNN and the KPA signed on Dec. 8, 2003.<\/p>\n
The program, however, has raised concerns among the public and
\nlaw enforcers, who fear that it will justify drug abuse and
\nencourage drug trafficking.<\/p>\n
\"Especially in this case, we don't want to be a force of
\nopposition, but we must also take the lack of law enforcement,
\nlow discipline, and weak control in the country into
\nconsideration,\" said Togar.<\/p>\n
He said strict monitoring was needed to avoid possible abuses
\nof the program.<\/p>\n
KPA secretary Farid W. Husain said the program would be
\nevaluated annually by a monitoring committee, which involves
\nAustralian-based NGO, the Center for Harm Reduction.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hivaids-harm-reduction-project-launched-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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