GNP+ and ICW: Harm reduction central to HIV prevention for Injecting Drug Users
NEWS RELEASE - DECEMBER 12, 2005
The Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and the
International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (ICW) today
released their Joint Position Paper on Injecting Drug Users and Access to
HIV Treatment. Paper available in English, Spanish and Russian
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
GNP+ and ICW: Harm reduction central to HIV prevention for Injecting Drug
Users.
'Being an active drug user is not a valid criterion for denying an
individual access to HIV treatment and care.' - Mauro Guarinieri, Chair of
GNP+, former injecting drug user
The Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and the
International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (ICW) today
released their Joint Position Paper on Injecting Drug Users and Access to
HIV Treatment.
More than two decades after the AIDS epidemic was first recognized, HIV
transmission through injecting drug use is an increasingly serious public
health problem in many parts of the world. Recent estimates indicate that
on a global scale at least 10 percent of all new HIV infections can be
attributed to injecting drug use. When one excludes Africa, the percentage
rises to 30 percent.
Researching the position paper GNP+ and ICW were shocked to find injecting
drug users have a disproportioned low level of access to antiretroviral
therapy.
Even though in some countries injecting drug users account for up to 80
percent of HIV infections, injecting drug users represent only 7 percent
of the people on antiretroviral therapy.
'We believe that being an active drug user is not a valid criterion for
denying an individual access to treatment and care,' says Mauro
Guarinieri, Chair of GNP+ and himself a former injecting drug user:
'Antiretroviral therapy is a proven means to improve the prognosis and
quality of life of all people living with HIV and AIDS.'
GNP+ and ICW strongly support harm reduction as the most effective and
evidence based means of preventing HIV and other blood borne infections
among injecting drug users.
The United Nations, and particularly UNAIDS and its cosponsors, should
take a stand against any attempt to deny or limit access to life saving
interventions such as needle and syringe exchange and other services for
people who inject drugs.
At the national level, GNP+ and ICW urge governments, including bi-lateral
donor agencies, to adopt and promote harm reduction as best public health
practice.
'Antiretroviral therapy is a starting point. It provides an incentive for
HIV-positive injecting drug users, to make contact with health care
services,' says Mr. Guarinieri: 'These services can facilitate prevention,
HIV voluntary counselling and testing as well as AIDS care, support and
treatment. They are also a prime entry point for the treatment of other
co-morbidities like TB and hepatitis B and C.'
Repressive national drug policies are among the main obstacles to adequate
access to effective HIV prevention and treatment programmes for injecting
drug users. Consequently, GNP+ and ICW will support all efforts aimed to
pressure governments to repeal drug laws and policies that impede access
for injecting drug users to HIV prevention and treatment, and other health
services. Both organisations commit to establishing better and stronger
links between PLHIV, harm reduction and drug users' groups.
Injecting drug use is responsible for HIV infection through sharing
contaminated needles and syringes and other drug injecting equipment by
several people. In addition, HIV is transmitted sexually to the partners
of injecting drug users and potentially to their children through mother
to child transmission.
Decades of public health research provide a strong base of evidence for
the effectiveness of harm reduction interventions and international human
rights commitments should compel support for these interventions.
'Governments that limit access to needle and syringe exchange, to opioid
substitution therapies and related services do more as endangering the
lives of injecting drug users, their sexual partners and children,' says
Carmen Tarrades, development officer at ICW and former injecting drug
user: 'These governments are actively supporting the spread of HIV and
AIDS. They make the HIV pandemic worse.'
The Joint Position Paper is now available in English, Spanish and Russian.
English
Spanish
Russian
Contact information: More information, questions or quotes? Please contact
Martin Stolk (GNP+), at +31-20-423 4114 or mstolk@gnpplus.net. Or Emma
Bell (ICW) at +44-20-7704 0606 or emma@icw.org All the material in this
release may be reproduced freely, when GNP+ and ICW are mentioned as
source.
Background information:
The Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) is a global
network for and by people with HIV/AIDS. The mission of GNP+ is to work to
improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS. GNP+ achieves
its mission through advocacy, capacity building, and communications
programs that draw from strategies based on: ADVOCATING for Inclusion,
Visibility, Access, Rights; LINKING by Networking, Mentorship, Dialogue,
Education; SHARING of Capacities, Knowledge, Strength, Resources.
www.gnpplus.net
The International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) is the
only international network of HIV positive women. ICW has 3000 members in
134 countries. ICW works for a world where all HIV-positive women enjoy
respected and meaningful involvement at all political levels, have full
access to care and treatment; and enjoy full rights irrespective of
culture, age, religion, sexuality, social or economic status/class and
race. www.icw.org
Communications Coordinator
Global Network of People Living with HIV/Aids (GNP+)
tel: +31-20-423 4114
fax: +31-20-423 4224
email: mstolk@gnpplus.net
site: www.gnpplus.net