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Tikking the Boxes
Until 2014, Mainline worked on the project Tikking the Boxes in South Africa. Since January 2015, South Africa has been participating in the Bridging the Gaps programme.
In cooperation with our local partner Health4Men, we address men who have sex with men (MSM) and who use drugs (recreationally).
This group of men sometimes takes great health risks, for example by engaging in unprotected sex under the influence of drugs and by sharing injection needles.
In this project, we combined Mainline's specialized knowledge of drug use and harm reduction with Health4Men's knowledge of the MSM group.
Procedure
On the basis of a study carried out among members of the target group (needs assessment), Health4Men evaluated how they were able to reach this group of users and what risky behaviour its members exhibit. In cooperation with Mainline, Health4Men offers services to promote the sexual health of MSM and reduce the risks associated with drug use.
The first needle exchange in South Africa was launched in the context of this project. In this manner we hindered the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus and of infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C. The project was carried out in Cape Town and the surrounding area (from July 2011 until October 2014).
More information
In the context of this project, Mainline and Health4Men published a folder containing information for the group of MSM that injects drugs.
Read the article 'Coming out of the Drug Closet' by Evan Tsouroulis (editor at Health4Men)
Contactperson: Machteld Buzs
The project Tikking the Boxes was financed by the Nederlandse Aidsfonds [Dutch Aids Fund].
On the basis of the knowledge gained from this project, we could integrate South Africa into the Bridging the Gap programme in 2015. Because of this, we are now able to reach a broad group of (injecting) drug users.
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Marocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Mainline is a partner in the Love Alliance programme. The Love Alliance brings together organisations led by communities most affected by HIV and AIDS.
Kenya
Women who use drugs in Kenya face violence every day. At home. On the streets. By the police. In their communities. A unique study - conducted in Mombasa, Kenya - sheds light on the tough realities these women encounter. Urgent action is needed now.
South Africa
Women Who Use Drugs face additional problems compared to their male counterparts. The harm reduction field far too often neglects the needs of women. To some extent, the same is true for peer workers: incredibly valuable staff in any impactful service. How can local services make sure that peer workers are valued, supported and living up to their full potential?
United Kingdom, Finland, Greece, Estonia, Serbia, Portugal, the Netherlands
Harm reduction approaches are rarely applied in a recreational sports setting. And why would we - sport equals health, right? Not always. Research shows that the use of performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) is quite common in various recreational sport scenes. And for those people who use frequently and in high doses, harm reduction can make a big difference.
Kenya, South Africa
Young people use drugs - including minors. It's an inconvenient truth: societies usually seek to prevent young people from damaging their health and there is a big taboo on drug use among young kids. But are stigma, legislation or moral judgement keeping young people away from harm reduction services? This project aims to find and improve access to services.
Global
The use of drugs during sex is a growing worldwide phenomenon among men who have sex with men (MSM). Mainline has built a unique track record while working in the frontline of the Dutch 'chemsex' scene. Now, we also apply this expertise in an international context. The best place to start? Our chemsex e-learning.
Iran
Iran is renowned for its harm reduction programme. It was one of the first countries in this geographical region to adopt a harm reduction approach. Government supports and funds the programme. But the drug scene in Iran has changed over the past 20 years. More people are using stimulant drugs and, due to economic circumstances, more people who use drugs have become homeless. Mainline sets out to see whether the current programme in Tehran still fits the needs of the local people who use drugs.
Indonesia
Prisons in Indonesia are often overcrowded and health services are limited. Is quality prison health too expensive? Not according to findings from Atma Jaya University, who applied the method of 'economic modelling' to prison health services, including drug dependency programmes. The findings feed important advocacy messages to improve the prison system in 2021.
Vietnam
October 2019 marked the start of a cutting edge new initiative. With the support of Open Society Foundation, Mainline and SCDI in Vietnam are building expertise to support people who use stimulant drugs. The core motivation to do so is the sharp rise in the use of crystal meth in the South Asian region and the lack of a coordinated harm reduction response.
South Africa
Together with activists and peer- and outreach workers in South Africa, Mainline worked on a practical guide about involving peers in harm reduction work.
A MAINLINE-GIZ STUDY
With the support of the Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development (GPDPD), a project implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, a team of three Mainline researchers conducted a study into effective harm reduction interventions for stimulant users. The study includes a review of the evidence for different harm reduction strategies for stimulants and a detailed description of seven good practices in different world regions.
Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, Tanzania and Vietnam
The Bridging the Gaps programme started its second phase in January 2016 and continued until the end of 2020. The shared goal of the Bridging the Gaps alliance: to improve the health and rights of people who use drugs, sex workers and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
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