Considering the rising HIV epidemic among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Dhaka, Save the Children introduced one-stop-services through comprehensive drop-in-centers (DICs) to reverse the trend.
In this process, PWID is tested for HIV. If someone is found positive, s/he is counselled for anti-retroviral therapy (ART) considering the test and treat strategy which will prevent further transmission of the virus. A case worker looks after a specific number of patients in order to ensure close monitoring of day to day situation and adherence of the drug. All of these services are delivered from one place. Since April 2017, three DICs for PWID in an epicenter of Dhaka have been converted into comprehensive DICs which are located at Khilgaon, Bakshibazar and SK Das Lane of the city.
The result is inspiring. It has been possible to complete enrollment of 74 PWID into ART service in just one and half months (mid-April to May 2017). Prior to this initiative, the total enrollment was only 139 in the last couple of years (till March 2017).
Before introducing this service, a comprehensive capacity building initiative including formal training, orientation, on-site and on-call mentoring have been done for the staff at those DICs. Staff members included a medical officer, nurse and counsellor. A set of standard forms and formats have also been introduced for standardisation of HIV management and data flow for the national program.
The service is being implemented under the mutual agreement of National AIDS/STD Control (NASC), UNAIDS, Save the Children and self-help group of PWID.
