Background:
One of the public health concerns for People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in Tanzania is HCV infections. Surveys and studies have been conducted to asses including a Biobehavioral Survey (BBS) and research at Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) clinics for opioid users in Dar es Salaam. Studies shown a high prevalence of HCV among PWID, primarily caused by sharing contaminated needles and syringes during injections.
In 2011, a community-based survey conducted at Muhimbili MAT clinic involving 534 PWID showed a prevalence rate of 75.5%, higher rate of 83.7% among women who inject drugs “
Description:
TaNPUD, under funding from UNITAID through INPUD, will implement the Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) Qualitative Research – a values and preferences approach on HCV prevention and treatment under the Catalyzed Uptake of Under-Utilized Tools and Treatment Simplification for Hepatitis C (CUTTS HepC) Project. TaNPUD now started to create awareness about the upcoming research project and how PWID will be engaged and benefit from the project, especially concerning HCV treatment
Findings:
In collaboration with five CSOs for project in Dar es Salaam region, TaNPUD conducted an outreach visit in PWID hotspots to create awareness about the project research. A total of 237 PWID have been reached with sensitization about the project. During discussions with them, PWID who tested before positive with rapid HCV testing are really eager to get treatment. The hepatitis C project research is expected to provide treatment to some of the targeted sample to be selected after testing and confirmatory tests are conducted.
Conclusion and lesson learned:
Comprehensive harm reduction services for PWID is important, including HCV treatment. The research project results will provide data and information on the HCV model of care and its acceptability for PWID who tested HCV positive, this will support advocacy for scaling up simplified HCV treatment across the country. |