The coverage area of the mobile voluntary drug user testing point in the Vitebsk region will expand
The coverage area of the mobile voluntary testing and counseling point for drug users in the Vitebsk region will be expanded. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Vitebsk Regional Organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society (BRCS).
In 2013, the staff of the point intend to include the Orsha district in their work.
The project to create a mobile voluntary testing and counseling point was implemented in the Vitebsk region in January 2012 through the Global Fund, the UNDP office in Belarus, and the Vitebsk Regional Organization of the Red Cross. Its goal is to limit the spread of HIV infection among the population and to provide comprehensive assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS. The target group of the project is injecting drug users in the Vitebsk region.
The mobile voluntary testing and counseling point is a specially equipped vehicle where injecting drug users can anonymously, free of charge, and confidentially receive consultations on HIV infection, safe sexual behavior, undergo testing for HIV, viral hepatitis B, C, and syphilis using expensive express blood and saliva tests (results are known within 20 minutes); exchange syringes for new ones, and receive free condoms, alcohol wipes, and other protective measures.
Last year, the point made visits to Vitebsk, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, Tolochin, Dubrovno, Gorodok, Liozno, and the Dubrovno district. Its services were used by 577 drug users.
Furthermore, an important event for the Vitebsk regional organization of the Red Cross was the receipt in February of a letter from the UNDP informing about the signing of a grant agreement by the Global Fund with an implementation period from January 2013 to November 2015 within the framework of the second project "Ensuring universal access for key affected populations to HIV prevention, treatment and care". "This means that injecting drug users will continue to receive free services at the anonymous counseling points operating at the Railway district (Vitebsk), Polotsk and Orsha city organizations of the Red Cross," specialists emphasized.
In total, according to the results of 2012, almost 1.3 thousand clients (including repeat visits) applied to the anonymous counseling points of the region, 104.9 thousand condoms were distributed, 116 thousand syringes were issued, and more than 1.5 thousand medical and psychological consultations were provided. The regional center for psychiatry and narcology provides significant assistance in implementing such work.