Community Based Harm Reduction

About

Best Shelter is establishing community-based harm reduction with community prevention workers, Mobile Teams in the villages and IDP camps of the project locations in Sin Bo, Tar Law Gyi, Waimaw Bamaw, Chipwi, and Hpakant townships of Kachin State to enhance awareness and community acceptance of Harm Reduction. Additionally, COVID-19, GBV prevention information, and referral pathways for the post-violence care system were established. A referral system for screenings, investigations, vaccinations, and hospitalizations, Enhanced access to ART/TB/NSP/Condoms despite travel lockdown, and a referral system for HIV/TB was established in Kachin State.

The core activities are:

• Community based harm Reduction and Health Promotion Activities (Including Female peers and Community prevention workers, Prevention and treatment of overdose, HIV/ AIDS, Hepatitis B/C, TB, malaria, etc.)
•  Capacity building and TOT trainings of Best shelter teams (Mobile teams-2 Nurses and 1 Outreach Worker, CBS tester..etc) in each project site of Kachin State.
• Harm reductions and COVID-19 (IEC) dissemination to PWIDs/PWUDs/Family Partners/Sexual Partners/IDPs.
• Best Shelter in partnership with AHRN supported food assistance from World Food Program towards people living with HIV/TB infections, and distributed food ration for the clients of Myitkyina, Waing Maw, Chipwe, Shwe Gu, Hpakant, Moe Gaung and Bhamo Townships.
• Advocacy towards the community and influential stake holders on Harm Reduction.
• GBV prevention information sharing and referral pathway for post violence care by Best Shelter teams.
• Psycho-social support (Transportation allowance for HIV/TB screening, accompanied referral for ART/TB medicines, Food allowance for treatment adherence, etc…).

Target Population

•  PWID (People who use drugs)
•  PWUD (People who inject drugs)
•  Family members & Partners
• Community

Project Location
Kachin

• Chipwe
•  Sadone
• Waimaw
• Bhamo
• Hpakant