Review
Effectiveness of harm reduction programmes for injecting drug users in Dhaka city
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* Corresponding author: Tasnim Azim tasnim@icddrb.org
1 ICDDR, B: Centre for Health and Population Research, Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
2 CARE, Bangladesh, Dhaka Field Office, 49/1, Babar Rd, Mohammedpur, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
3 Family Health International, Bangladesh Country Office, House #5, Rd. #5, Gulshan-2, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
Harm Reduction Journal 2005, 2:22 doi:10.1186/1477-7517-2-22
Published: 25 October 2005Abstract
This paper provides a brief overview of the harm reduction programme for injecting drug users (IDU) of CARE, Bangladesh in Dhaka city and uses data from surveillance and a focussed research study on a cohort of IDU, to evaluate the programme. The harm reduction programme in Dhaka is run by CARE, Bangladesh and includes needle/syringe exchange, awareness raising on HIV/STI, abscess management, condom distribution and advocacy with different groups of people. The needle/syringe exchange programme (NEP) has been in place since 1998, the 2nd Generation Surveillance in Bangladesh is being conducted since 1998, and an in-depth cohort study, started in 2002, is being conducted in two areas of Dhaka city with approximately 500 IDU under CARE's NEP who are being followed bi-annually to assess risk behaviour, incidence of HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis. As the surveillance and the cohort study are both closely associated with the NEP of CARE, Bangladesh, these data can be used to monitor the NEP.