CUT position paper on harm reduction programmes in Mauritius

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CUT position paper on harm reduction programmes in Mauritius

4 August 2015

Mauritius has been quite famous worldwide these recent years regarding the high levels of opiate use in the country. With a prevalence rate of 1.95% of opiate use Mauritius was ranking among the countries with highest levels of opiate use, in line with Iran and the Russian Federation in the late 2000s. At the same time, HIV incidence clearly showed a highly concentrated epidemic.

This situation has urged the authorities to set up health services for key affected populations. Thus, in 2006, Mauritius was the first African State to launch Harm Reduction services like the Needle and Syringe Programme (NSP), as well as the Methadone Substitution Therapy (MST), in a multi-sectorial approach.

However, Collectif Urgence Toxida raises some concerns that the government is seeking to undermine progress made in the area of harm reduction.

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