Theme: Models of Care Year: 2019
Background:
There are 92,436 people who use drugs (PUDs) in Nepal (Central Bureau of Statistics 2018). MMTP was
first started in early1990s through a private clinic to treat opioid users and prevent HIV among people
who inject drugs (PWIDs), which stopped in 1999 due to administrative problems.
Description of model of care/intervention:
In 2006, United Nations office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) in cooperation with Nepal Government restarted MMTP with 3 sites in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Pokhara. MMTP supported by UNODC phased-out
in 2010, therefore since 2011 to the date Save the Children (S.C) under the Global Fund HIV & AIDS
Program has been supporting MMTP in Nepal. MMTP is primarily operated through 2 units; (1) Medical
Unit-(M.U.)-unit managed by doctors/nurses to dispense methadone and provide medical care (2) Social
Support Unit-(SSU)-unit managed by drug users themselves to provide counseling and social supports to
MMTP patients.
Effectiveness:
• Currently there are 14 MMTP sites in total across the country with an estimated 2500 PUDs
enrolled on the program.
• All MMTP sites have SSU managed by drug users themselves.
• SSUs have a canteen within their premises which are run by MMTP patients themselves thereby
supporting their livelihoods.
• SSU provides mechanical, mobile maintenance etc. trainings to patients thus many patients have
started their own auto-mobile workshops.
• MMTP patients are often arrested by police because of their past drug use history, hence SSUs
rescue these users and even provide methadone to patients while in custody.
Conclusion and next steps:
SSU createsmore employment opportunities for PWIDs. These initiations from user-led organizations
which are empowering & engaging PWIDs whilst supporting their livelihood should be recognized and
encouraged by the Government.The Government should be accountable & responsible enough towards
its PWID population by taking-over all drug programs.
Disclosure of Interest statement: NUNN has not received any funding nor any pharmaceutical grants
were received to conduct this study