MAURITIUS:
Syringes and Needles Now Part of Anti-AIDS Arsenal
Nasseem Ackbarally
PORT LOUIS, Feb 20 (IPS) - In contrast to the rest of southern Africa,
intravenous (IV) drug users have become the group most vulnerable to the
transmission of the HI virus in Mauritius. This has led the Mauritian
government to introduce a syringe and needle exchange programme in a bid
to stem HIV infection among Mauritian drug users.
Sexual transmission among heterosexuals is the most common way of HIV
infection in southern Africa, the region which has become the centre of
the international HIV/AIDS pandemic in recent years.
Mauritius is unusual in the region as the HIV prevalence rate among its
population of 1.2 million people is less than 0.5 percent. Since 1987, 162
Mauritians have died from AIDS-related illnesses. Currently, some 2,345
Mauritians are living with HIV/AIDS according to official figures but some
social workers estimate the number to be around 10,000.
Another unusual characteristic of the epidemic in Mauritius is that drug
injection with shared needles has since 2003 been the main mode of HIV
transmission. The sharing of contaminated needles was responsible for 92
percent of new HIV infections in 2005 and 85.2 percent of new infections
in 2006.
Social worker Cadress Runghen ascribes the increased vulnerability of drug
users to HIV/AIDS to the fact that anti-AIDS messages focussed on sexual
behaviour only.
Sensitisation campaigns helped to ensure that the population was made
aware of the risk of HIV infection through sexual means, leading to a drop
in such infections during the 1990s.
But, says Runghen, ‘‘nobody kept a check on the drug addict community’’.
In the meanwhile the HI virus has been spreading like wildfire among the
members of this marginal group.
To address this and other issues, the Mauritian parliament adopted the new
HIV and AIDS Act at the end of 2006 which introduced a syringe and needle
exchange programme and methadone treatment. Methadone is used to alleviate
withdrawal symptoms during the rehabilitation of drug addicts.
In just a few weeks, 2,000 syringes used by drug addicts have been taken
out of circulation and replaced by new ones. A few hundred addicts are now
being treated with methadone.
Social workers have started this programme in the capital Port Louis and
on the outskirts of the capital at Baie-du-Tombeau, Roche Bois and
Batterie Cassée where a large number of drug addicts live or come to have
their daily dose of heroin or other drugs.
They meet in places which are not generally frequented by other members of
the public. Social workers visit these places to hand out new syringes and
condoms. The used syringes and needles are collected in a plastic box and
destroyed.
Social workers use this contact to sensitize drug users to HIV/AIDS
issues. ‘‘It is not only a programme to exchange syringes. It is not a
mechanical exercise. We are doing it to reach out to drug addicts and
convince them to go to one of our rehabilitation centres,’’ says Runghen.
Drug addicts hide themselves from the public eye for fear of being
arrested by the police. The social workers have to win their confidence.
‘‘This is a long process. Drug addicts want to talk to people. They want
to feel the warmth of people who listen to them. They do not want to be
rejected,’’ Runghen adds.
One female drug addict, Nalah (not her real name), told IPS that she is
now more aware of HIV/AIDS. She and her friends used to share one syringe
for days on end because pharmacists would not sell them new ones.
‘‘That is why we come to exchange our syringes. When an addict suffers
because you cannot take your daily dose, you will take any syringe you
find to shoot up with,’’ Nalah explains.
Another social worker, Imran Dhannoo, is adamant that the programme should
be directed at those thousands of drug addicts who are vulnerable and who
do not know about the programme. ‘‘We should reach out to them. We should
not wait for them to come and see us.’’
The syringe exchange programme is one of a number of initiatives in the
comprehensive HIV/AIDS legislation introduced last year.
According to health minister Satish Faugoo, the law provides an effective
national framework with prevention and care programmes that will get
people involved in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS while protecting people’s
human rights.
Emphasis is placed on confidentiality and human rights. Thus, no HIV test
can be undertaken without prior consent of the person being tested, and
the results of tests must be made available to the person. The law also
allows a minor to undergo an HIV test without the consent of her or his
guardian.
The law determines that HIV-positive people be referred for treatment.
Information about the HIV status of an individual is protected from
unauthorised collection, use or disclosure in health care and other
settings.
In a bid to stem stigmatisation and discrimination against people with
HIV, penalties have been introduced to protect their pension rights and
employment conditions, and to prevent prejudice or ill-treatment of any
kind.
Faugoo has said that HIV positive people should be guaranteed equal rights
to employment and heath care as are accorded all other members of
Mauritian society. The law makes it illegal to impose HIV testing as a
pre-condition for employment or continued employment.
It is also an offence for a doctor not to provide treatment to a person
who is or perceived to be HIV positive. Testing facilities will be
introduced in specific public health institutions, as well as pre- and
post-test counselling. Testing will happen in accordance with strict
guidelines and protocols to ensure the reliability of results.
Nicolas Ritter, spokesperson for a nongovernmental HIV/AIDS organisation,
welcomed the new legislation. According to him, many people are living
with HIV without knowing it.
Meanwhile, religious leaders are warning people about their sexual
behaviour. Catholic priest Jocelyn Grégoire has appealed to Mauritians,
saying: ‘‘The house is on fire and we cannot save it. But we should save
the furniture. You are being told to use condoms. If they cannot protect
you from pregnancy, how can they protect you from HIV?’’
‘‘Better be faithful,’’ added Homa Mungapen, spokesperson for the Council
of Religions.
(END/2007)
Send your comments to the editor |
