NSEP-Needle Syringe Exchange Program

On a more serious note:

Overall the experience with NSEP was great. It was definitely an eye opening experience that we can be forever grateful of. In total, we learnt that there is 8-9 staff members depending on the time of the year who dedicate themselves to keeping the program afloat. I think the most controversial part of the program is the difficulty in people understanding the root. Alex mentioned that it was the highlight of his day and I too agree with him.

We went around the backstreets of Puduraya following an outreach worker and we dispensed new syringes and needles to the drug users. The question raised by Alex is on everyone’s mind, “Does this kind of activity encourage substance abuse within the drug users’ community?”

The key difference is in “Harm reduction”. A medical volunteer explained that these kind of communities are so often neglected and stigmatised that even the drug users are ashamed and seldom seek help. Another reason why the drug users are afraid to seek help is that they are aware of the possibility of being sent to prison.

Upon the topic of harm reduction and this program there will always be debate on the legitimacy on the program. The debate will be just as controversial as the existence of jails. There is no correct answer. The pamphlets that they give out may appear to teach the users how to inject safely and get high more efficiently but they also educate the drug users about the risks in sharing contaminated needles and the spread of diseases.

On a more metaphorical aspect, it is to consider fixing a tree by starting at the roots. The medical volunteer also happens to be a doctor said to me, “You can’t pretend that these communities don’t exist. You can’t change the way that they live but you can reduce the harm and the spread of diseases” and most notably, HIV/AIDS.

NSEP also provides basic access to medication such as pain killers, vitamin tablets and cold and flu tablets.

I cannot describe the world that I experienced in the back streets, alleyways and the makeshift houses and I cannot show you any photos. Some made their homes out of corrugated metals and cardboard. Some walked around with dirty clothes with holes sticking out of them. All I can say is; it is something that you need to see firsthand. Even though what we saw was shocking and it definitely kept the three of us quiet, it was considered surface level. I guess that surprised all of us. Compared to the other outings given to previous interns we were told that they got the chance to experience the real deal, venture into the jungle, and see how drug users and sex workers interacted with the workers at NSEP. Not complaining about the eye opening experience, our safety was of top priority and I was grateful for that. The 4 hour round trip walking around and waiting with nothing but a medicine box, a few pamphlets, new syringes in a backpack was something that none of us will forget. We witnessed how they lived and what they did to earn a living. They sold and traded what we considered garbage.

Another strange experience was seeing a bony man crawl out of a hole in the wall to see what the commotion was about.

My outreach worker and guide was a self confessed drug addict and he told me that he was sent to prison 7 times but has been clean for 3 years; the same amount of time he has been working with NSEP. He explained to me, “sometimes you wonder how people can live like this you know but then you just sit back and you realise that you can only do your best for them and the community.”

Signing off: Lily Cheng xoxoxox