Project title

The main goal of the project is to expand the coverage of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services among injecting drug users in Klaipėda City, providing pharmacotherapy for patients with opioid dependence.

Project objectives:

• To establish pharmacotherapy cabinet for patients with opioid dependence.
• To make contacts with service receivers and to provide pharmacotherapy services.
• To provide information about HIV and other blood born infections for pharmacotherapy patients and their family members, test them for HIV, HBV, HCV, STI.
• To spread information about the project and pharmacotherapy in the society.

Implementing the project HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment service coverage was expanded and quality improved for the IDUs in Klaipėda City. A separate pharmacotherapy cabinet was established and needed pharmaceuticals and commodities were purchased: methadone, dispenser, measurer, etc.

During the project period 223 individuals were informed about the project, provided services and treatment possibilities. 43 of them (during the different time) started pharmacotherapy with methadone in the cabinet. 43 clients received information on HIV and other blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections, every month about 30 individuals were educated and learned how to protect themselves and their relatives from infections. IDUs relatives were also educated about HIV (meetings with 19 persons).

The clients were tested for HIV, HBV and HCV. Out of 43 individuals who were in the pharmacotherapy programme, HIV positive were 14, HCV positive - 30, HBV positive - 19.  The new HIV cases - 0, new HBV cases - 9, new HCV- 2, new RPR- 0.

It was noticed that the clients are becoming more self confident, they start behaving responsibly and have a feeling of duty; this helps them to feel a part of the society. Individuals who participate in the programme learn to solve their social and psychological problems. HIV infected clients visited infectionists and other doctors more regularly; they started to take better care of themselves and their health. They started to regard their documents more responsibly, as well as started to interest about other treatment possibilities, like detoxication, short-term and long-term rehabilitation, etc.

Klaipėda Centre for Addictive Disorders in cooperation with the association "Pozityvus gyvenimas" disseminated information on HIV infection, transmission, healthy life for HIV positive, etc. Clients and their relatives were provided with leaflets. Information was also announced on the information boards as well as posted on the Klaipėda Centre for Addictive Disorders website: www.kplc.lt.

Main indicators:

• Number of pharmacotherapy clients - 43;
• Number of IDUs who were informed about the project and the services provided - 223;
• Number of provided health education services - 593;
• Number of consultations on health care service receiving possibilities - 153;
• Number of consultations on social institution's services - 155;
• Number of consultations on documents' arrangements - 87;
• Number of intermediation and representation services - 106;
• Number of psychologist's consultations - 145;
• Number of consultations provided by social worker - 253;
• Number of psychiatrist's consultations - 188;
• Number of consultations provided by doctors' commissions - 158;
• Number of multi tests - 445;
• Number of clients tested for HIV - 24;
• Number of clients tested for HBV - 17;
• Number of clients tested for HCV - 3;
• Number of clients tested for RPR - 24;
• Number of consultations provided for the pharmacotherapy clients' relatives - 20.

1. Number of clients in PT - 43;

2. Dropout rate (%) - 23,25;

3. Average maintenance dose of methadone - 62,6 mg;

4. % of patients receiving recommended maintenance dose - 69,7;

UNODC budget