At the beginning of February SANPUD and its partners held Open Clinics in Gauteng and the Western Cape where approximately 300 people who use drugs accessed healthcare services in a supportive and welcoming environment. The South African Network of People Who Use Drugs (SANPUD) has successfully used community-led monitoring surveys to amplify the voices of people who use drugs in their advocacy for their rights and improved access to public healthcare services. This approach reinforces SANPUD’s commitment to providing evidence-based services that effectively address the needs of people who use drugs in their diverse local areas.

Identifying barriers for people who use drugs accessing healthcare services

Community-led monitoring was funded by the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). Trained community peers in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape used tablets to gather data from people who use drugs during surveys. This information was sent to the SANAC situation room for analysis. The findings revealed significant barriers for drug users in accessing healthcare services.

Natalie Jacobs, Community Engagement Officer in Cape Town, shared, "People who use drugs often avoid clinics out of fear of being turned away. During our Open Clinic Days, we had 28 attendees. People who use drugs accessed essential clinical services, including HIV, TB, STI, and Hepatitis testing. Notably, 12 women were able to get pap smears."

Open Clinic Days as the appropriate response 

To address the needs highlighted in the community-led monitoring surveys, SANPUD organised Open Clinic Days to facilitate healthcare access for people who use drugs. These events occurred across various districts in Gauteng including Yeoville Clinic in Johannesburg, Westonaria Central Clinic in the West Rand and Motsamai Community Health Clinic in Katlehong as well as Chapel Street Clinic in Woodstock, Cape Town in the Western Cape. Each Open Clinic Day aimed to bridge the gap between healthcare facilities and the community of people who use drugs by providing speedy services and prioritising urgent healthcare needs. Collaborations with local service providers allowed for testing for HIV, TB, STIs, hepatitis, and cervical cancer screenings for women.

“We aimed to ensure services reached individuals in areas where healthcare resources are limited, breaking down stigmas. Many drug users said they rarely access public healthcare due to discrimination,” explained Lucky Ndlovu, PWUD Sector Coordinator for KwaZulu Natal.

Developing solutions with partners and stakeholders

SANPUD delivers comprehensive support to the people who use drugs in underserved areas through strategic partnerships and collaboration with other marginalised key populations, a range of stakeholders, and service providers. Furthermore, this ensures that the donor funding for life-saving services to people from marginalised key populations has a wider reach and is sustainable. For example, during the Open Clinic Day at Yeoville Clinic, SANPUD partnered with Tsohang Youth Project and the Anova Health Institute to provide essential healthcare services, while at the Westonaria Central Clinic in the West Rand, SANPUD partnered with Sisonke Movement, Tshepo Ya Bana Npo, and others. Another successful event at Chapel Street Clinic brought together representatives from the LGBTQI+ community, the CSF Disability Sector (ARRC), men who have sex with men (MSM), and healthcare professionals. These partnerships empower all parties involved, fostering a united front against discrimination and inequality without the fear of competition. Of the 300 people who attended the Open Clinics in the two provinces over two hundred people were tested while the rest were put in contact with the site managers to ensure their return for tests.

The Community- led Monitoring has been instrumental in amplifying the voices of people who use drugs, by fostering a platform where their experiences and insights drive meaningful change. This inclusive approach not only empowers individuals but also strengthens the overall effectiveness of SANPUD's advocacy initiatives, ensuring that the needs and rights of marginalised key populations are at the forefront of their work.