Date: 28/4/2023
Location: Kachin – Myitkyina
On 19/8/2022 with CPI and AIS support, Myanmar Positive Group organized the National Drug User Myanmar- NDNM to conduct the Advocacy meeting with religious leaders in Kachin state with the purpose to Increase the engagement and involvement of religious leaders and local community leaders not limiting the youth leaders to reduce community resistance toward Harm Reduction activities and reduce stigma & discrimination towards PWID.
On 28.4.2023 MPG CSSD team and NDNM conducted the follow up meeting of 2022 action items and to explore the barriers between NDNM and MINA Kachin area members. This meeting held by strong collaboration with PLHIV and KP community networks of the Community Networks Consortium (CNC) for the implementation of community-led advocacy.
OBJECTIVES OF THE MEETING
- To reduce community resistance to PWID
- To increase the awareness on understanding the behaviors of drugs user and their challenges to access the health care services
- To develop of Advocacy Action Plan with Religious leader (MINA) and community leader (PWID, PLHIV of NDNM)
- To explore the barriers between NDNM and MINA Kachin area members.
- To follow up action items of 2022 meeting.
So What:
The meeting began with warm welcomes from U Pyi Aung Hein, Program Manager of MPG, and U Min San Tun, Deputy Head of Program of MPG, expressing gratitude for the participants’ contributions to community activities. Introductions were made, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose among the attendees.
Key topics addressed during the meeting included community resistance to PWID, awareness of healthcare challenges, and the development of an Advocacy Action Plan. Participants engaged in thoughtful discussions and explored strategies to promote acceptance and understanding of PWID within the community. The importance of addressing stigma and discrimination faced by PWID was highlighted, along with the need for collaboration between religious leaders and the PWID community.
Barriers between NDNM and MINA members in the Kachin area were identified and strategies to overcome them were explored. The meeting also reviewed action items from a previous meeting held in 2022, discussing progress made and identifying further steps to address any outstanding issues.
Ko Sai Aung Kham, Chairperson of NDNM, facilitated the meeting and set ground rules to ensure a respectful and efficient discussion. Expectations of the participants included improved health services for PWID, learning and sharing good practices, active involvement in PWID community care programs, and gaining accurate knowledge about harm reduction and overdose response.
Several concerns were raised, including doubts about achieving set goals, preventing negative impacts on future generations, ensuring access to peer training, managing scheduling conflicts, boosting participants’ self-confidence, overcoming language barriers, and ensuring follow-up on action items.
In conclusion, this report highlights the collaborative efforts and discussions that took place during the meeting, emphasizing the importance of acceptance, support, and understanding for the PWID community. The meeting provided a platform for exchanging ideas, developing strategies, and fostering collaboration among organizations and individuals committed to improving the well- being of PWID.
U Pyi Aung Hein: Leading and Collaborative for PWID Community Advancement
Active Engagement and Collaboration of Participants to Empower the PWID Community
