This program is sponsored by the World Bank (WB), the Vietnamese government and other international organizations in Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City has launched the massive Syringe Exchange, with the Committee for AIDS Prevention estimating that around 2.5 million new syringes will be distributed to drug users this year.
HCMC is increasingly being littered by syringes, indicating an alarming rise in intravenous drug use.
Organizers believe the program will help contain the spread of HIV just like condom distribution programs targeted at sex workers.
Thu Duc, one of the main target districts, has taken the initiative with its Preventive Health Center especially focusing its efforts on Go Dua Cemetery, the good place for drug users.
Every Monday and Friday afternoons, health workers from the center, Minh Thu, “T.”, and “L.” set off to do a job very few dare.
Armed with sterile gloves, tongs, and toxic-waste containers, they regularly visit Go Dua. There, unperturbed by the accumulation of garbage and human waste around them, they carefully pick up discarded syringes that lie scattered around the place.
Voong, a local resident who is distressed by the situation, lamented: “Even the trees must be infected with HIV from having been stabbed repeatedly with syringes. I just hope people don’t accidentally step on an infected needle.”
Thien, a local boy, enjoys watching the team carry out their good deed which he finds highly unusual.
“We not only pick up discarded syringes, we also distribute sterile ones to drug users to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases,” they told Tuoi Tre.
Son, a young recidivist who underwent a detoxification program in 2008, said he uses four or five syringes a week provided by health workers. Tien, another, uses 12-13, while a third man uses up to 30.
Nghi, whose family is aware of his addiction, receives the sterile syringes at home from the workers.
Hung, a young addict, says: “Although we realize the risks involved in sharing and reusing needles, we cannot afford to buy new ones. We believe this program can decrease the risk of our contracting HIV.”
Thu Duc Health Center is planning to set up 12 needle exchange points soon.
Distributing syringes is aimed at reducing the spread of blood-borne diseases and has been implemented in several countries since the 1970s, first to curb the spread of hepatitis and later as part of widespread efforts to contain the AIDS pandemic.
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