Theme: Peer Involvement and Advocacy Presentation # 556 From Lashio, (Northern Shan State) to Goa, (India): development of a drug user self- help group in a politically constrained environment Authors: Mg Mg Thiha Soe - Treatment Support Manager, Kyaw Hla - President: Black Sheep Peer Support Group, Khin Maung Oo - Peer Counsellor Khin Maung Oo Peer Counsellor, Kyaw Naing Swe - Peer Educator, Ms. Nang Khin Phyu and Zaw Zaw - Needle Patrols; AHRN-Myanmar, April 2009 1
Transcript
Theme: Peer Involvement and AdvocacyPresentation # 556
From Lashio, (Northern Shan State) to Goa, (India): ) , ( )development of a drug user self-help group in a politically p g p p yconstrained environment
Authors: Mg Mg Thiha Soe - Treatment Support Manager, Kyaw Hla - President: Black Sheep Peer Support Group, Khin Maung Oo - Peer CounsellorKhin Maung Oo Peer Counsellor, Kyaw Naing Swe - Peer Educator, Ms. Nang Khin Phyu and Zaw Zaw - Needle Patrols;
AHRN-Myanmar, April 2009 1
“This presentation is dedicated to all ongoing humanitarian work inongoing humanitarian work in Myanmar”
- AHRN Team in Myanmar y
Our sincere thanks to the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA) for providing full Reduction Association (IHRA) for providing full scholarship to make this presentation possible.
International Harm Reduction Association
AHRN-Myanmar, April 2009 2
Past experiences
Drug treatment without the involvement of drug users has limited impact;drug users has limited impact;An existing gap between “perceived services” and “actual services” remains a majorand actual services remains a major challenge;Drug Users Support Groups are not easy where drug use is seen as a ‘law enforcement’ issue;AHRN made an attempt to achieve a high level
f d ti i ti d i l tof drug users participation and involvement into program planning and implementation;
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An inheritance
Chronic drug dependency (for some chaotic or problematic drug use);problematic drug use);Repeated relapse; Peer pressure, pattern and nature of drug use;p p gTrust which does not go outside their group;Stigma and discrimination forces them to i l t f it d t ithi th iisolate from community and stay within their own group;Low or no access to health services;Low or no access to health services; Fear of police, arrest and legal problems;
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Lashio and Goa
Historically Lashio and Goa do not have any common ground;common ground;One is an underdeveloped hill-town in Myanmar, the other a popular tourist spot in I diIndia; In 2008 those places met at the “First Asian Consultation on the Prevention of HIV relatedConsultation on the Prevention of HIV related to Drug Use”, when a drug user from AHRN activities in Lashio made his appearance as a drug user’ representative;drug user representative; For AHRN Myanmar it was the reward of three years work to support drug users.
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A success story m
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he joins AHRN as Needle Patrol A
The starting point
AHRN requested local authorities in 2005 for a permission to employ a drug user as Needlepermission to employ a drug user as Needle Patrol to collect contaminated needles/syringes from public places;needles/syringes from public places;Currently AHRN has 5 Needle Patrols (4 males, and 1 female) all are on MMT;and 1 female) all are on MMT;Domestic assistants at AHRN DICs are also former or current drug users;former or current drug users;
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Continued efforts
Since 2005, Regular clients’ meetings at AHRN DIC explored the concept of self help group;DIC explored the concept of self help group;This concept finally led to the Black Sheep Peer Support Group with 28 drug users;Support Group with 28 drug users;An Executive Body including President, Vice President and Secretary was selected withPresident and Secretary was selected with technical support from AHRN management; BSPSG is now in the process of registration;BSPSG is now in the process of registration;
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Black Sheep Peer Support
One representative is included in Project Management Team (PMT);Management Team (PMT);Black Sheep has gained support and trust from key stakeholders (police, health…);y (p , );Wide range of activities (i.e. skill building and income generation) is created;
Capacity Building
In 2008, a Peer Counsellor was selected from Black Sheep who got a position in T t t S t U it (TSU) t AHRNTreatment Support Unit (TSU) at AHRN DIC in Lashio with active involvement in program implementation;
Female Drug Users Support Group; Monthly meetings;
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Income Generation
Purified drinking water supply:T INGO GO d i t lTo INGOs, GOs and private places;
Catering services (Food preparation):T hi l l i i iTownship level meetings, training programs
Contract with AHRN to keep DIC clean;Attendant services to AHRN referrals (hospitalised cases) under Buddy System:
12 h hif l k f i d h12 hours shift to look after patient under the Treatment Support Unit guidance and support;
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Archive Busy hours at
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Newsletter
Newsletter is a platform for voicing their opinion through sharing personaltheir opinion through sharing personal experiences with drugs and treatmentSome topics
available treatment options;story of Black Sheep member on his personal experiences with MMT;p pTB among drug users; Brief summary of abstract selected for IHRC held in Warsaw;IHRC held in Warsaw;Experience of woman peer educators and female outreach workers;
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Th k f ki dThank you for your kind attention!
Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN)Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN)10-A, Hlaing Myint Mo Lane 7, Hlaing Township, Yangon Myanmar Tel: + (95 - 1) 539 154; Tel/fax: + (95 - 1) 539 154
