Free health clinic for men who use drugs in CBD

A free men’s clinic was recently held in the CBD for homeless drug users.

The clinic was stationed at the park near the Tshwane district hospital in central Pretoria from 09:00-15:00, on June 1.

Some of the free health screening services offered included:

– Blood glucose testing
– Blood pressure monitoring
– Covid-19 screening
– TB screening
– Pre & post-HIV counselling if confirmatory test is positive, linkage to appropriate care and treatment
– STI screening including syphilis AD and the provision of treatment packages when applicable
– Provision of contraception (condoms and lubricant)
– Prostrate cancer screening
– Testing and referrals

The clinic was made possible by partnership between local non-profit organisation, SA network of people who use drugs (Sanpud), Tshwane health promotion, multisectoral AIDS response management unit (MSAMU), Red Cross and community oriented substance use programme (Cosup).

According to Sanpud the inspiration behind the effort was to encourage people who misuse drugs to seek medical assistance early.

The stakeholders also educated attendees on medical conditions such as TB, STIs, HIV, hypertension, diabetes and prostate cancer, as well as human rights violations.

Medical linkage officer for Sanpud Pretoria, Linda Malaka said men especially tend to delay seeking medical treatment when sick, so they brought the clinic to them.

“Men unlike women like to seek treatment when the problem has been there for too long. This is worse among drug users as they feel discriminated against when they go to hospitals or clinics. They feel unworthy so these initiatives help bring the services to them in a space where they won’t feel judged and can get help,” Malaka said.

She believes that the clinic helps with identifying illnesses and diseases early thus minimising the damage that it can cause.

Amid the current cholera outbreak in the metro, the stakeholders also screened attendees for cholera as well among the aforementioned.

“Even if some of them have strayed from their treatment, we write referrals to hospitals and check in regularly. We want them to see that they are welcomed, that they are loved and we won’t turn them away because of the drug use,” she continued.

ORGANISATION SAYS HOMELESS ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DRUG USE

According to Sanpud, most of these users are homeless which is why they are advocates for harm reduction interventive methods.

Harm reduction involves providing users with sterilised needles to avoid the sharing of needles, which results in the transmission of disease.

They show users the right veins to inject to avoid a medical emergency like haemorrhaging or blood clots. Users are also educated on moderate use and overdosing, especially after one has abstained from the substance for some time.

Malaka also responded to criticism of these methods that enable use instead of preventing it.

“Let’s look at when HIV began to spread, they said abstain, did people abstain? No, they said have only one partner, did people comply? No. But when we started giving out condoms there was the same pushback. But now it has helped reduce rates of infection,” she said.

“The same applies to drugs, if I approach you and say ‘Use responsibly’, we are going somewhere. Unlike saying stop. They cannot just abruptly stop. But if we teach them about moderate use, overdosing and monitoring your intake when you haven’t had access in a while, it’s a much more helpful step to recovering.”

Most of the men that attended the clinic were grateful for the experience and the work Sanpud and its partners are doing.

One attendee, Ryan Mentor, also known as Muhammad, said the effort helps eradicate preconceived stigmas and notions not only just among men but the black community as well.

“Since we men are so scared to go to doctors, this event helps us with sicknesses and chronic diseases that we are unaware off. In the black community especially there’s a stigma that we are bewitched or some witchcraft is the cause of an illness not knowing that it’s simply gout or low libido,” Muhammad commented.

“Because of the lack of education and information, I’m glad that I’m one of the people who volunteered to come here and I can see the help that I’m getting and I’m grateful. Keep it up guys, keep up the good work,” Muhammad concluded.

ORGANISERS ARE THANKED

Another attendee Albert Dube also thanked the organisers for their efforts, saying it helps to know their current medical status given their current living situation.

“Coming here was very effective. You won’t be knowing your status and living in an environment affected by drugs and we don’t usually get attention for it. People will say that they did it to themselves and people die because of this. So thank you guys for stopping by and may God bless you,” Dube remarked.

Sanpud’s national advocate and regional coordinator, Charne Roberts said they want to replicate the same clinic for men in Durban and Cape Town.

Roberts urged users to take their health seriously.

“You need to know your status guys, it’s important that you come and have these tests done so you know where you’re at in life because your health is very important,” Roberts said.

The NPO calls on healthcare professionals and residents to treat users with more dignity, compassion and respect.

“Accept them, don’t judge them, don’t criticise them, show them love. When a person is dirty it doesn’t matter – it’s still a person. When there’s a break-in don’t automatically assume it’s someone who uses drugs because often it isn’t and they just get blamed immediately. These people need our help,” she concluded.

Attendees also received refreshments and dignitary packs upon completion of their screenings.

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