🙏 People - men, women and children who use drugs are a high priority for support from many perspectives - high vulnerability, criminalisation, stigmatisation, multiple disease burden - HIV, HCV, TB, mental health - and poor access to effective services and essential commodities. Essential support and advocacy is coming from the Global Fund, however much more is needed to mobilise domestic and international policy, program and financial support. The Global Fund needs to work with countries and key implementing and technical partners to develop effective global, regional and country level transition strategies building on the success stories including the current reform initiative in Malaysia. And the Global Fund needs to halt the apparent decline in their direct financial support for harm reduction.
"Addiction is a disease that needs to be treated rather than penalized, and the harm reduction programs have been vital in protecting both prisoners and staff." Dr. Barbiros, Moldovan National Penitentiary Department. Moldova is a global leader in effective prison-based harm reduction. In every penitentiary across Moldova, clean needle exchanges, opioid replacement therapies and peer volunteer networks help reduce the risk of HIV and hepatitis infection and improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Since 2006, The Global Fund has invested approximately US$165 million to support Moldova’s efforts to fight HIV and TB and protect the rights of people most affected by the two diseases, including people in prison. https://ow.ly/UPEl50QmZac