Harm reduction programmes focus on reducing negative consequences associated with injected drug use, such as HIV. It includes measures such as providing access to clean needles and syringes and opioid substitution therapy (OST). Anova is providing comprehensive harm reduction services to people who inject drugs (PWID) in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
Through our JAB Smart project, we use a service delivery model that combines fixed sites at government clinics with a mobile unit and peer educator-led outreach services, to provide information and services on HIV prevention, safer injecting practices and wound care to PWID.
Services include testing and counselling for HIV and other STIs – people testing positive are provided with free antiretrovirals (ARVs) and other relevant treatment. The project also provides harm reduction packs that include clean needles/syringes, sterile water, condoms and lubricants, other commodities, as well as behaviour change information.
Anova will also establish the provision of OST in line with national guidelines.