26th and 27th April, 2023 Malacca, Malaysia
In the context of scaling up access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support there is increasing regional recognition of the importance of understanding stimulant drug use by key populations living in Malaysia. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) SDG 3, “Ensure health lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” and the UNAIDS Fast-Track strategy for ending AIDS by 2030, we play a positive role in protecting the individual and public health, especially of vulnerable and diverse communities. In the context of people who use/inject drugs, civil society organisations (CSOs) and medical officers working on the ground have an important role in ensuring the right services, are delivered in the right place and right time, leaving no one behind.
On 26th and 27th April 2023, UNODC in partnership with UNAIDS, the Ministry of Health Malaysia and the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) conducted a two day workshop on “HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support For People Who Use Stimulant Drugs” in Malacca, Malaysia. The workshop is part of the continued engagement initiated by UNODC to gain a better understanding, intensifying the dialogue on stimulant drug use, and engagement with programme managers at local and national levels about harm reduction services in the context of HIV. The workshop also serves as an opportunity for participants of the workshop to share views, ideas and concerns.
The workshop was attended by 30 representatives from the Ministry of Health Malaysia, the National Anti-Drug Agency, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Civil Society Organisations and the participation of UNODC and MAC.
The two-day workshop witnessed an insightful discussion between medical practitioners and civil society organisations. All parties felt the need for better knowledge and stronger partnerships between them on a regular basis. A major conclusion from the workshop was (there are multiple risks associated with the use of stimulant drugs and preventing the health and social consequences of drug use should be client-centered and broad in scope to truly ensure public health access for all.
The need for dialogue amongst civil society organisations, the Ministry of Health Malaysia, and the community for rolling out harm reduction programmes among people who use drugs including those who inject should be emphasised. Adequate sensitisation and capacity-building initiatives were also identified as important in providing access to harm reduction services. Creating and sustaining a strong network of people who use drugs is identified as an important step in increasing access to harm reduction services in Malaysia.
For further enquiries, contact: Yap Kok Fei – Country Liaison & Trainer : [email protected]
yap@ at [email protected]
