Basic principle

Harm reduction is based on the principle that every substance user has the ability to intervene in his or her use. Every substance user also has the ability to unlock, strengthen and develop this potential.

Africa

In December 2009 Mainline researched the living circumstances of drug users in the Kenian cities of Nairobi and Mombassa. Unfortunately there is insufficient attention for harm reduction and the rights of drug users, most of whom smoke heroin.

Eastern Europe

Mainline works in Georgia, Russia, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine. In Georgia, for example, Mainline works with two partner organisations, ‘Alternative Georgia’ and ‘Tanadgoma’, in efforts to improve the situation of substance users.

Serbia

Around 100,000 substance users live in Serbia’s capital, Belgrade. This group is often refused healthcare. This is partly due to the fact that many substance users do not have proper identification, and partly because care providers are prejudiced and scared of drug users. The ngo, ‘Veza’ (meaning 'connection' in Serbian) runs a reception centre for substance users in Belgrade and a bus that is used by outreach workers to look up substance users across the city. On both occasions people receive information, (medical) care and clean materials. In 2009 Veza and Doctors of the World set up a project to integrate the prevention of hiv, hepatitis C and hepatitis B among substance users into the current (medical) care programme. Within this three-year project, Mainline has the task together with Veza, to train 180 family doctors and 180 addiction specialists with the aim of improving the access to medical care for substance users. Mainline staff also coaches the Veza trainers during this process, so that Veza can become a professional training institute.

Visit the website of Veza ››

Visit the website of Dokters van de wereld ››

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Bhutan

Mainline recently researched the situation of drug users in Thimpu, the main capital of Bhutan. We gave several short training to a variety of organisations that work with drug users.

EU activities

We participate in the European collaboration project Correlation II - European Network Social Inclusion & Health...

Indonesia

Since the beginning of 2006 Mainline has supported the local organisation LARAS which works in the areas of Bontang and Samarinda. In addition to HIV prevention, the work focuses on providing care for sex works, drug users and HIV-infected users.