A new centre, the Invepro Indibano Victim Empowerment Centre, has opened its doors on the property of the Lesedi Community Centre (LCC).
The centre specialises mainly in heroin addiction and in assisting drug users to be reincorporated into society.
The site coordinator, Alfred Majara, spoke to the HERAUT regarding the new centre and its services.
There are currently nine people working at the centre, including a doctor (once a week), a full-time sister, and a social worker.
Indibano has another satellite office in Emfuleni Municipality.
Funding to run the clinic comes from Nacosa (The Networking HIV, AIDS Community of South Africa).
Though the centre is on LCC’s property, they operate independently.
“We aim to assist 50 people every month; at least 10 a week. We treat the drug users with methadone on a six-month cycle to get them off their addiction,” said Majara.
The services are for narcotic users.
The services on offer include psychosocial support, HIV/ TB testing, wound care, advocacy services, general clinical services, linking to other services and human rights violations (stigma discrimination).
“We want to get the word out about heroin and how it can destroy lives. We also want to remove the stigma of being a drug user and reincorporate them into society,” Majara concluded.
The clinic is open from Monday to Friday.
For any further information, email info@indibano.org
