UNODC National Capacity-building Training on the Quality Assurance for Drug Use Disorder Treatment Services in the Republic of South Africa

27^th to 29^th of November 2024 Johannesburg, South Africa. From Wednesday the 27^th to Friday the 29^th of November 2024 United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSAF) together with UNODC Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section (PTRS) Vienna facilitated a three-day national capacity-building training on the Quality Assurance (QA) for Drug Use Disorder (DUD) Treatment Services in the Republic of South Africa.

This groundbreaking training forms part of a UNODC led global initiative called International Programme for the Quality Assurance (QA) for Drug Use Disorder (DUD) Treatment Services, in short PIQAT, together with other International Agencies. In 2023 the UNODC was the first to bring PIQAT to the Republic of South Africa and since then UNODC has been bolstering the country’s drug treatment system and services, through a range of technical support focusing on Quality Assurance. This pioneering national capacity-building workshop was preceded by sensitizing national stakeholders on QA in DUD treatment, a national capacity-building training focusing on QA for the DUD treatment system followed by a national capacity-building workshop on the adaptation of key quality standards for the service appraisal for the QA in treatment for DUDs in South Africa.

All of the capacity-building trainings and other QA engagements included various officials from the National Department of Social Development, other national government departments, national agencies such as the Central Drug Authority and the South African National AIDS Council, drug treatment providers, Provincial Substance Abuse Forums and Local Drug Action Committees.

This catalytic QA capacity-building training that specifically focussed on drug treatment services, brought together national drug policy managers, drug treatment assessors and monitors, senior provincial officials responsible for drug policy and services, senior health care officials responsible for drug treatment and mental health and the NGO sector. The enthusiasm about the diverse group of senior delegates involved in South Africa’s drug treatment system that came together was contagious in the room, including pertinent health discussions between the social services and health care sectors on QA in drug treatment.

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #888888;">Officials from the National Department of Social Development, other national government departments, national agencies such as the Central Drug Authority and the South African National AIDS Council, drug treatment providers, Provincial Substance Abuse Forums and Local Drug Action Committees engaged in group discussions during the training.</span></div>

Officials from the National Department of Social Development, other national government departments, national agencies such as the Central Drug Authority and the South African National AIDS Council, drug treatment providers, Provincial Substance Abuse Forums and Local Drug Action Committees engaged in group discussions during the training.

The training content included UNODC/WHO International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders, UNODC QA services tool and scientific content on QA meeting international rules. The training facilitators also interacted with the training delegates via a digital platform called Menti Meter and the training also consisted of vibrant and robust small group and plenary discussions. The training facilitators calibrated QA in the drug treatment services focusing on high-level technical discussions and closer synergy between drug treatment in South Africa and the International Standards and other rules. Together with previous capacity-building on QA this transformative training expanded the knowledge base and technical skills of the delegates on QA, and this will assist them to attune drug treatment at the national level to key international rules.

Training delegates, including national drug policy managers and service coordinators, agreed that UNODC brought the PIQAT initiative to South Africa at the right time, specifically this capacity-building training focussing on QA in drug treatment services amidst a growing drug problem and treatment challenges in the country. Stakeholders also agreed that this QA training will transform drug treatment services in line with key drug legislation, the National Drug Master Plan (2019-2024) and other policies and plans aimed at improving the health of people who use and inject drugs and their families.

Through this training that shifted the national treatment paradigm the UNODC assisted South Africa to improve QA on the continuum of care for people who access drug treatment including ongoing recovery management which remain a perpetuating challenge in the country. One training delegate stated: “The UNODC is assisting South Africa to fast-track transformation in the drug treatment system and services and is building the country’s capacity to treat people who use and inject drugs with quality care amidst growing drug challenges.”

The UNODC was appreciated for providing quality technical support in the area of QA for drug treatment and for staying committed in providing the PIQAT initiative to South Africa and assisting the government to keep it sustainable. UNODC was also commended for bringing the latest knowledge, skills and tools on QA for drug treatment to South African and assisting the country to stay abreast with the latest global evidence-based developments in drug treatment. UNODC will continue the PIQAT initiative in 2025 and will work closely together with stakeholders to put people who use and inject drugs first and calibrate the drug treatment system and services further. This capacity-building has ended the PIQAT initiative in South Africa on a high note and has also set a firm foundation for further catalytic activities in 2025.

United Nations

UNODC Regional Office for Southern Africa

UNODC National Capacity-building Training on the Quality Assurance for Drug Use Disorder Treatment Services in the Republic of South Africa