APLF Continues shared learning approach for leaders.

The comprehensive harm reduction policy and programme by the Government of Malaysia is seen as ground breaking. It has already caught attention of countries in the region. In an effort to build leadership understanding on injecting drug use and HIV infection, APLF in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Government of Malaysia conducted a week long observation study visit (OSV) to Malaysia for Programme Managers and Policy Makers from three South Asian countries: Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. These three countries report HIV infection among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs). A total of 13 participants comprising of government officials representing Ministry of Health, National AIDS Control Programme, Ministry of Interior, Department of Narcotics Control and representative of NGOs working with IDUs participated in the OSV from January15-19, 2007.

The OSV identified various challenges and opportunities in HIV/AIDS prevention among IDUs especially on harm reduction interventions including Methadone Substitution Therapy (MST). Site visits were made to various IDU treatment and rehabilitation centers located in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. The OSV ended with action planning, where all three countries developed respective follow up plans for pilot testing of MST for IDUs. Key components of the action plans include:

• Conduct of comparative assessment of Needle Syringe Exchange Porgramme (NSEP) and MST and sharing the findings with Policy makers;
• Proposal development for pilot testing of a comprehensive harm reduction programme for IDUs with special focus on Methadone substitution for approval by the policy makers;
• Sensitization ofmedia to avoid any misreporting
• Development/adaptation of tools and guidelines to implement the pilot programme;
• Staff training (including M&E) for implementation of pilot programme
• Documentation results of the pilot programme and share these with policy makers for scaling up