The Interim National Harm Reduction Task Force (Secretariat)
The formation of the National Interim Harm Reduction Task Force Secretariat was a brain- child of Medecins du Monde which in Tanzania is abranch of The international NGO - MEDECINS du MONDE with roots in Francewith Missions all over the World. MdM in Tanzania has taken the helm in the Mission for Harm Reduction. So far MdM – among so many activities it has volunteered in Tanzania it has facilitated ( Transport,boarding and and lodging) three National NGO forum meetings with NGO leaders coming fron different Regions in Tanzania. Thus among many deliberation at the forum meeting a secret ballot election for the National Harm Reduction NGOs Secretariat was conducted during the second forum meeting on 24/8/2013.at the MdM offices in Tandika Daressalaam.The MISSION of The national Harm Reduction Forum is HARM REDUCTION to the KEY POPULATION without infringing their human rights to choice, liberty,and other civic rights.
Harm Reduction is a technical term used by drug use interventions stake holders in reference among many thematic areas to:
- In a friendly approach to identify the Key population among the people at large.
Key Population are those who are:
· CSWs ..commercial sex workers..those who sell sex for monetary or material gain or favours.
· IDUs..Injecting drug users (and non injecting) those who use different types of drugs either by injecting,sniffing, smoking etc.
· MSMs..men sex to men those who quench their sexual thirst and needs by being either penetrated by other men or vice versa.
2…As the groups above are a marginalised,stigmatised,and in some severe cases treated as social outcasts, Thus MdM (Tanzania mission), The National Harm Reduction Forum (as an ambrella Organisation),Harm Reduction Community Service Organisations (CSO) throught Tanzania , in conjuction with the Mtaa, Village,Ward, District and Municipal,Regional government, Mininstries (health and other Mininstries) TheDrug Control Commission, families of the KPs, and othe state organs together among other things :
· Research to map the magnetude,length and breadth of the problem
· Does an advocacy stratergy on provision of Harm reduction services without necessarily stoping the use of drugs as it is ones choice
· Builds and facilitates drop-in-centers like the one at Tandika (MdM), Keko( MUKIKUTE) and others in the country.
· Provides free all the medical services to the KPs like it is being done now at Muhimbili,Mwananyamala, Temeke and other Hospitals and centers.
· Provides free of charge safe syringes,injecting water, condoms, sanitary products etc and a subsistance allowance etc..to the KPs who voluntarily register at the Drop-in- centers.
· Where resources allow, to provide temporary shelters for the homeless KPs who are on medication.
· Facilitates voluntary councelling and testing for those KPs who show signs of Hepatitis B&C,HIV-AIDS and other deseases.
· Provides Methadone for those who voluntarily require.
· Supports Sober Houses like the one in Zanzibar,Tanga,Kigamboni –Daressalaam and others.
· Provides care and treatment,enabling enviroment, paliative care, etc to the KPs
· Advocating for the formulation of KPs national policies,laws and regulations.
· Provide enterpreneureship,vocational skills etc to those who would have finished rehabilitation
MdM every year facillitates at least 2 forums for national CSOs leaders from across Tanzania Regions whos CSOs does interventions to the Key Population (ie: commercial sex workers,Sexual perverts,MSM,IDUs,and other drug users). Thus at one of the forums held 0n 22---24 August 2013 at the MdM offices,among other deliberations it was decided by the participants to form a National union of the CSOs. A secret ballot was conducted to form an interim task force.
The following were elected through a secret ballot:
1. Martin S. Barua------chairperson----TECOMAYO- Daressalaam
2. Emmanuel Shilla----Secretary Genaral---Faraja Trust Fund ----Morogoro
3. Jaqueline Mushi----Cordinator------MdM--------Temeke DaresSalaam
4. Laurian Laurent----Treasurer------YOVARIBE---Kinondoni DaresSalaam
5. Rehema Sanga-----Member-----AMICAALL------Programe Assistant-Tanzania
6. Godfrey Ten-------Member------TANPUD (Tanzania people who use drugs) DaresSalaam
7. Sudi Ally ----------Member-----ZAIADA -----Zanzibar
8. Mnabari Amanzi---member -----TIAECA------Tanga
9. Frank Mbalani----Member------Center for Human Rights Promotions ---Ilala-daresSalaam
The above interim Task Force among other assignments vested upon by the national members are:
-To prepare a proposal for a National Harm Reduction CSOs Forum Constitution.
-To propose fund rising mechanisms
-To prepare a general all Harm Reduction CSOs national conference and office bearers election.
-To prioritise and stratergise awareness on STIGMA among the Key Population.
-To popularise the Harm Reduction Forum stratergy to different stakeholders.