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South Africa

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.

Our current projects


Train-the-trainer programme

In 2017, Mainline launched its first international train-the-trainer (ToT) programme. The objective of the programme is to develop the in-house training capacity of local partner organisations, making Mainlines capacity building efforts more sustainable in the long term.

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Vietnam

In the last decade, the use of methamphetamine – also referred to as ‘meth’ or ‘ice’ – has increased significantly throughout Southeast Asia. And Vietnam is not an exception.

> Read more

Advocacy for women who use drugs in the MENA region

Mainline works with the Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association (MENAHRA) to improve the position of women who use drugs (WWUD). We designed a manual for local organisations in the MENA region. The aim of this manual is to provide practical guidelines to advocate for harm reduction services for women. 

> Read more
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Indonesia

Indonesia (pop. 254 million) is located in Southeast Asia and comprises 17,000 islands and 34 provinces.

> Read more
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Tanzania

Harm reduction in Tanzania: a delicate balance Under the Bridging the Gaps 2 programme, Mainline aspires to support harm reduction services in Tanzania. To fully understand the opportunities, needs and socio-political circumstances, Mainline organised two scoping visits in 2016. The situation for people who use drugs in the United Republic of Tanzania is delicate.

> Read more
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Chemsex

In the gay scene the use of drugs during sex is a growing worldwide phenomenon. Here, the emergence of the practise of crystal meth and injecting drugs (slamming) is striking. On dating apps and websites, men seek other men with the same intentions for sex, often using screening terms such as ‘high and horny’, ‘party and play’, ‘chems-friendly’, ‘chems, party’, ‘chill out’ or ‘sleazy sex’. Among professionals, sex under the influence of drugs by men who have sex with men (MSM) is known as 'chemsex'.

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Harm reduction for stimulant users

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.  

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Bridging the Gaps2: 2016 - 2020

Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, Tanzania and Vietnam (new!)

The Bridging the Gaps programme started its second phase in January 2016 and will continue to 2020. The shared goals remain the same as the first programme: to improve the health and rights of people who use drugs, sex workers and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs fundsBridging the Gaps. Mainline is one of the lead organisations to focus on the health and rights of people who use drugs. 

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Nepal

Nepal has a long history of drug use. Cannabis is sanctioned for use on certain religious occasions. The use of smoked opium has been quite common in the country. But drug use only began to be seen as a problem in the country in the mid-1960s and early 1970s with the influx of travelling hippies from Europe and the US.

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Georgia

Transition management in Georgia: everyone deserves a second chance!

Everyone deserves a second chance in life. But how can you best support people who were just released from prison? What does quality support look like where it comes to the rehabilitation and resocialisation of inmates, former inmates and probationers? And what level of additional support does a person who uses drugs need in this process? A new project in Georgia intends to set the standard.

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Multi-country study on harm reduction and community involvement

Funded by Bridging the Gaps and set to take place in four countries - Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa and the UK – this study aims to understand how involvement of people who use drugs can influence the quality and availability of harm reduction services.

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Mainline: doping in recreational sports

Although evidence is somewhat scattered, the use of performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) is long said to be on the rise in the recreational sport scene. It concerns substances that help people lose weight and/or build stronger muscles. Mainline is part of a new European project that aims to test two online interventions around PIED use. 

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Kenya

Kenya (population 45 million) is an East-African country on the Indian Ocean that borders Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, South-Sudan and Ethiopia.

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South Africa

The main drugs of choice in South Africa are alcohol, cannabis, heroin and methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is locally known as tik. Most heroin is smoked mixed with cannabis, a popular mix called whoonga, cocktail or nyope. Heroin injection, however, has been increasing in recent years. 

> Read more
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Innovations in Pakistan

Harm reduction programmes to improve the health and rights of People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) show similarities all over the world. In countries where PWUD lack access of quality harm reduction services; are being criminalised; and human rights are being violated, Mainline works hard to promote health and rights to the often ostracised and hidden populations. 

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Our finished projects

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Bridging the Gaps1: 2011 - 2015

Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa and Tanzania (BtG2)

In the context of the Bridging the Gaps program, Mainline works with local partners in five countries to improve the health and human rights of drug users.

> Read more
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Georgia

Back to Society

Over two years ago, a new government came to power in Georgia. Many prisoners were then released at a rapid pace. They were not well prepared for their release and encountered problems with reintegration. Among these persons were many who use drugs.

> Read more
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The Netherlands & Belgium

Prevention of GHB overdose

In the Netherlands and Belgium, the number of young people frequently using gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) has been rising. GHB is used in nightlife. It is estimated that in the Netherlands alone there is a group of 22,000 people who use GHB daily and who have developed a strong physical dependence on GHB.

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Georgia

Hepatitis C care for PUD

From 2014 till 2015 Mainline, together with its local partner Tanadgoma, implemented a series of interventions around Hepatitis C (HCV). The aim of the project was to understand the gaps and barriers to enrolment in the care cascade of hepatitis C prevention and treatment from the community perspective.

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The Netherlands

Strong connections between use of drugs and unsafe sex work

On the initiative of Mainline, Prostitutie & Gezondheidscentrum 292 / Prostitution & Health Centre 292, P&G292 carried out a survey of male and transgender sex workers between November 2013 and February 2014 in close cooperation with the Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD).

> Read more
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South Africa

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.

> Read more
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