Harm reduction among prison inmates in Mauritius

In 2006, the Government of Mauritius started harm reduction programmes—needle exchange programmes and opioid substitution therapy (methadone)—to reduce the transmission of blood-borne infections among people who inject drugs both inside and outside prison. Government figures from 2012 show that more than 5 400 people were enrolled on opioid substitution therapy, and theGlobal AIDS response progress report for Mauritius for 2012 shows that HIV transmission through injecting drug use in Mauritius declined from 73% in 2010 to 68% in 2011.

During an official visit to Mauritius, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé visited the Central Prison in Beau-Bassin, Mauritius’s largest prison, to learn about its opioid substitution programme, which allows inmates to continue receiving a daily dose of methadone while imprisoned.

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