OUT LGBT Well-being’s Director, Dawie Nel recently attended the 27th International Harm Reduction Conference (16-19 April) in Melbourne, Australia.
The event, focused on the theme of “Strength in Solidarity,” gathered more than 1,000 researchers, policymakers, health workers, and civil society groups from around the world to discuss the development of drug harm reduction policies based on scientific evidence, human rights, public health, and security.
Notably, the former President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe, was among the high-profile speakers at the conference.
At the event, Dawie presented OUT’s experiences in providing HIV prevention and treatment services to MSM (men who have sex with men) chemsex users in Soweto, South Africa. Specifically, he highlighted the need to develop new strategies to better retain these clients, who are at high risk of HIV, in care.
It’s an area in which OUT will continue to innovate to provide HIV and related services more effectively to those who most need them.