Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN)
Technical Capacity Building Short Course
Harm Reduction: Health and Social Care for People Using Drugs
06-10 March 2006
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Background
Drug use – particularly drug injection – is a major driver of HIV/AIDS across Asia . Accounting for approximately 60% of the global population and by far the significant majority of the world's estimated 13.2 million drug injectors, Asia also contains the world's two biggest illicit opium production areas, numerous source countries for the precursor chemicals for both heroin and methamphetamine production, and is criss-crossed by extensive trafficking networks for all of the aforementioned drugs, and more. With its increasingly mobile populations and large-scale intersection of multiple risk behaviours – namely drug use and injecting; the buying and selling of sex; and male-to-male sex – Asia faces rapidly expanding twin epidemics that threaten not only the well-being of people using drugs, their sexual partners and their families, but also the health and prosperity of the broader community of affected nations in the region. Reducing HIV/AIDS transmission among people using drugs requires the improve ment and significant expansion of health and social care services for this population group, along with stronger collaborative partnerships between policy makers, health and law enforcement officials, government, non-government and private organisations, people using drugs, and communities. Such partnerships must lead a movement from the dominant, ideology-based and heavily supply reduction-oriented approaches undertaken to date, towards an evidence-based public health response that acknowledges drug use and HIV/AIDS as a global challenge, and which focuses on reducing the harms of these twin epidemics locally, nationally, regionally, and globally.

Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• understand the complex interplay between drug use and other risky behaviours and potential harms like HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne viruses;
• describe the global and Asian regional epidemiology of HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne viruses;
• explain the place of harm reduction among contemporary drug policy approaches;
• dispel commonly held myths and misconceptions about harm reduction;
• outline the public health evidence base for many of the major harm reduction program interventions;
• describe both theoretical and practical elements of harm reduction responses to drug use and HIV/AIDS;
• understand the importance of effective advocacy and the process of creating an enabling environment for harm reduction; and
• explain the benefits brought about by involving all affected community members, especially people using drugs, police / law enforcement and religious groups.

Course Content
The course will include the following topics:

• Global and regional overviews of drug use, associated risk behaviours and harms;
• Drug policy approaches;
• Understanding harm reduction;
• Outreach to people using drugs;
• Establishing and managing a drop-in centre;
• Needle and syringe exchange programs;
• Safer injecting and vein care;
• Pharmacotherapy;
• Antiretroviral therapy;
• Social reintegration and poverty alleviation;
• Effective advocacy and the creation of an enabling environment for harm reduction;
• Drug user self-organisation;
• Establishing relationships with police / law enforcement, religious groups, and other community stakeholders.

The course will be participatory in nature and will incorporate a variety of interactive facilitation techniques. It will also include short documentary films and other multimedia alongside site visits to local organisations working in areas related to harm reduction, drug use and HIV/AIDS.

Participants
The course is intended for individuals whose professional duties primarily revolve around the interface of the twin epidemics of drug use and HIV/AIDS. This includes people working in the government, non-government and private sectors, such as health and drug control policy makers, health program developers and managers, community leaders, representatives from religious groups, police and law enforcement officials, drug treatment counsellors, social workers, medical professionals, and grassroots service providers.

The course is appropriate for individuals with an ‘intermediate' level of knowledge / expertise (i.e. more than a ‘beginner', not yet an ‘expert'). AHRN strongly encourages people living with HIV/AIDS and drug users to apply.

Facilitator and Guest Speakers
The course is facilitated by AHRN's three Training Officers: Mr. Paul Hardacre (Australia), Ms. Dampawon Pinitsuwon (Thailand) and Mr. Ryan Fernandes (India).

In addition to Ryan, Dampawon and Paul's combined 30+ years of experience in public health and primary health care responses to HIV/AIDS and drug use, the course will feature a diverse and eclectic range of Asian and international harm reduction experts and guest speakers.

Confirmed speakers include Bijan Nassirimanesh (Persepolis, Iran), Bushra Rani (Nai Zindagi, Pakistan), Kevin Robert Frost (TREAT Asia, Thailand), Karyn Kaplan (Thai Drug Users Network), Paisan Suwannawong (Thai AIDS Treatment Action Group), Greg Denham (AHRP, Vietnam), and Laurie Maund (Sangha Metta, Thailand), with more to confirm in the coming weeks.

Language Requirements
The course will be conducted in English. As such, participants are required to be proficient in, and comfortable with, both written and spoken English language.

Location
The course will be held at the Chiang Rung Room of the Central Duangtawan Hotel, 132 Loykroh Road , Chang Klan, Muang, Chiang Mai , Thailand . Tel: 053-905000, fax: 053-275429, 053-279100, email: info@dtwhotel.com

The Central Duangtawan Hotel is located in the heart of Chiang Mai, in the immediate vicinity of the world-renowned Night Bazaar district.

Course Fee Options  

Tuition Fee:
Full rate registration fee is USD 750
Deadline for full rate registration – 3 February 2006
The course fee includes tuition, reading materials and lunch served daily.

Travel, accommodation, visa costs, relevant personal insurances and other expenses are not included.

Tuition Plus Accommodation Package : For a fee of USD 950, AHRN will provide a package which includes tuition, reading materials, and 5 nights' accommodation at the Central Duangtawan Hotel, Chiang Mai, in a superior twin room, with breakfast and lunch served daily. For more information about the Central Duangtawan Hotel and its facilities go to www.duangtawanhotel.com or www.dtwhotel.com

Travel, visa costs, relevant personal insurances, additional nights' accommodation, and other expenses are not included.


Visa Requirements
Information about visa requirements is available at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs website http://www.mfa.go.th/web/12.php . Where possible, AHRN will assist course participants in the visa application process.

About the Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN)
The Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN) was established in 1998 as a regional information and support network created to link and support the people and programs working in Asia towards the reduction of drug use-related harm (especially HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne infections) among people using drugs, their friends, families and loved ones, and their communities. AHRN's key activities include networking, information sharing, advocacy, training, research, and policy and program development. Supported by the Royal Dutch Government, AHRN is based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where it is registered as a foundation. AHRN has close working relationships with international, regional and local governments and non-government organisations working in similar or related areas.

In an effort to ensure the delivery of high quality services based on international standards, AHRN recently underwent an internal audit and complied with the evaluators' expectations. This NGO benchmarking performed by SGS, a renowned Swiss firm, measured AHRN's performance against stringent international good practice guidelines. With AHRN's performance independently assessed, this certification is considered as a milestone in the organisations' labours to reduce the harms associated with injecting drug use in Asia.

About Chiang Mai
It could be the unique 700-year-old moat that surrounds the old city of Chiang Mai, or the many enchanting temples. Maybe it's the sense of history and Lanna culture that makes Chiang Mai so appealing. Or it might be the delicious Thai food, the service with a smile, the great shopping at the world renowned night bazaar or the local Sunday market and the unbelievably cheap prices for restaurants, bars and hotels in Chiang Mai.

Further afield are the popular attractions of Doi Suithep (the temple at the mountain's summit), the ancient ruined city of Wiang Kum Kham and the pretty Mae Sa valley with its waterfalls, orchid farms and elephant camps. Also popular are the Chiang Mai Zoo with its pandas and the Huay Kaew Waterfall.

All these features can be enjoyed in and around Northern Thailand, with its unbeatable scenery, natural wonders and national parks and rural way of life. We have it all covered, after all Thailand is famously called the Land of the Smiles.

More useful information about Chiang Mai can be found at www.tourismthailand.org .

Application Process
Applicants must complete and return the Application Form. Upon receipt of this form, AHRN will issue a provisional acceptance, along with details of acceptable methods for payment of the course fee. Full registration in the course will be confirmed when the course fee – due by 3 February 2006 – is received.

Participant numbers are limited, so applicants are encouraged to make their payments as soon as possible following their provisional acceptance.

Unfortunately, the very limited scholarships that AHRN is able to offer have already been awarded.

Payment method
Payment method: wire transfer to :
Bank name:     Bangkok Bank PCL
                       Thaphae Branch, Chiangmai
Bank address:  53-59 Thaphae Road., T.Changklan, A.Muang, Chiangmai , Thailand
50100

                       Tel: 66 53 282868  Fax: 66 53 274734  
Swift code:       BKK BTH BK
Routing No:      026 008 691 (In case of transfering from America )
Account Name: ASIAN HARM REDUCTION NETWORK-OTHER FUNDS
Account No.:    251-4-64657-5
AHRN's address: 72/8 Cholpratan Road , T.Changpuek, A.Muang, Chiangmai , Thailand 50300
Please indicate the purpose for “Training Fee for …applicant's name…”

Important Dates:
 
Deadline for registration: 3 February 2006

Registration and Scholarship Application Form

Title (i.e. Dr, Mr, Mrs, Ms, etc):

First Name:

Surname:

Gender:

Postal Address (please include Postcode):

 

Country:

Tel (please include Country Code):

Fax (please include Country Code):

Email: 



Academic or other relevant qualifications, and dates attained (attach sheet if necessary): 

 

Current Employer:

Current Position:

Current Duties / Responsibilities (attach sheet if necessary):

 

Previous exposure to / experience with harm reduction responses to drug use and HIV/AIDS

(attach sheet if necessary):

 

Briefly detail what outcomes you would like to achieve by attending this course

(attach sheet if necessary): 



Course fees to be paid by:

Employer or Self or other (please specify): 



Applicant's signature:


Date: 


Please return this Application Form to:

Ms. Dampawon Pinitsuwon
Training Officer
Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN)
P O Box 18 , Chiang Mai University Post Office
Muang, Chiang Mai , 50200
THAILAND

Tel: +66-53-893175, 893144
Fax: +66-53-893176
Email: dampawonp@ahrn.net