 | | APLHIV: a progressive voice in Pakistan | The HIV-epidemic in Pakistan is centralised and concentrated. HIV mainly affects people who inject drugs. In a country where drug use is widespread but also a huge taboo and where sexuality is not always easily discussed, the Pakistani network for people living with HIV and associated key populations (APLHIV) makes itself heard.
Islamabad visit
Mainliners Nick Veldwijk and Machteld Busz received a warm welcome at the APLHIV office in November 2016. During the visit, the need for continuous advocacy for drug users’ rights became clear once more.
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| A report on Crystal Meth in a sexual context | Recent years have seen a rise in the use of crystal meth (Tina) and intravenous drug use (slamming) in the European gay scene. This 'super speed' is popular among some gay networks in the Netherlands. We researched these two phenomena and published the findings in our report 'Tina and Slamming'.
Mainline thanks INPUD for their support to translate this report.
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 | | Training on OST in South Africa | Mainline initiated a training on Opiate Substitution Treatment (OST) in October. The training was held in Pretoria, South Africa. In many countries, access to opioid substitutes such as methadone and buprenorphine is difficult or even impossible.
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|  | | Communication officer - vacancy | A good understanding of both Dutch and English is required.
Interested?
Read our vacancy (16 hours per week) in Dutch and apply before 30 December.
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| Global state of harm reduction 2016 | Services to reduce drug-related harm are failing to keep up with the growing need, despite pledges to combat AIDS among people who inject drugs. Read the new edition of the excellent report ‘The Global State of Harm Reduction’ that just came out for 2016.
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 | | From Shadows to Light: Advocacy for Children of HIV-Affected Key Populations | In all our best efforts, we often forget the children of people from HIV-affected key populations, including the children of people who use drugs. A meeting on this topic was held in September. As a follow-up, a report was released to address this important issue.
Mainliner Machteld Busz attended the September meeting.
“I have to admit that this is a blind spot in many of our programmes. We are busy with the already huge needs of street-based people who use drugs that we simply forget to enquire about their family situation. Many people don’t mention their kids out of fear that the authorities might place them under custody. This meeting made me realise we should walk an extra mile. We already pay attention to the sexual partners of the people we meet as they are at higher risk to contract HIV as well. However, we should look at the broader family context. Even though funding might not be sufficient to include the needs of children, we can at least advocate on their behalf. This report gives us some practical pointers on how to do so”.
Read more about how you can include children in your programmes and how you can advocate on their behalf.
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 | | Team highlight: Monica at the heroin project in Apeldoorn (NL) | | In countries where interest in harm reduction interventions is growing, the concept of a fully integrated one-stop-shop of services catering to the well-being of PWUD without imposing sanctions could be very interesting. Mainliner Monica Carriere visited such a centre in the Netherlands. | |
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