ZCLDN Capacitates CBOs and CSOs on Harm Reduction

By Nomathemba Mathe

The Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN), an organization advocating for People Who Use and Inject Drugs (PWUID), convened today with Civil-Based Organizations (CBOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CSOs) on Thursday to strengthen their understanding of harm reduction.

Harm reduction encompasses programs, policies, and practices designed to mitigate the adverse effects of high-risk behaviors, particularly drug use.

Speaking in an interview with Skyz Metro FM, ZCLDN Office Manager Miss Amanda Sibanda emphasized the importance of harm reduction in curbing drug abuse in society.

“We aim to reduce consequence in line with harmful behaviors and activities particularly substance abuse without requiring individuals to stop entirely as we sensitize to harm reduction” said Sibanda

ZCLDN Director Wilson Box explained that the workshop aimed to educate stakeholders on harm reduction approaches and foster a supportive environment for PWUID.

“We should not let people die because of drug usage in the country, we capacitated CBOs and CSOs on what harm reduction entails to achieve good health outcomes at the end of the day” said Box.

One beneficiary of ZCLDN’s programs, Tina Sibanda, shared her gratitude, highlighting how the organization’s support positively impacted her life, leading to employment and personal growth.

“Since I am now a Bestie at ZCLDN it is my wish that I help other members who still inject drugs ti gain their selves back,” said Tina.

Munyaradzi Mkandla, Programs Officer at Advocacy Research for Men in Zimbabwe (ARMZ), noted that ZCLDN’s engagement improved their organization’s understanding and perspectives toward PWUID.

“This initiative is very crucial and will help to fight against drug usage hoping one day it will become a family conversation where even religious members also talk about drug usage” said Mkandla

Through counseling and support for PWUID, ZCLDN aims to reach 10,000 beneficiaries and build a supportive network within communities. By equipping CBOs and CSOs with harm reduction knowledge, ZCLDN hopes to contribute to a reduction in drug abuse and foster a safer, more understanding environment for PWUID.

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