Outreach work with injecting drug users (IDU) assumes delivering information and prevention means to clients at places convenient for them: in the area of their residence or pastime.
Chelyabinsk already has experience in street (outreach) work with IDU. But the experience of St-Petersburg organization “Humanitarian Action” is remarkable for its outreach focus on groups providing sex services for money.

According to the executive director of “Humanitarian Action” Igor Piskarev, the need to initiate such program rose from the fact that female IDUs, who provide sex services on the streets of St-Petersburg, continuously turn to the foundation for help.

98 % of St-Petersburg sex workers are drug users. 24.6 % of them are HIV positive, 6.6% infected with syphilis.

In order to curb the spread of HIV among and via this group, the team of “Humanitarian Action” run mobile outreach service on the streets of St-Petersburg daily from 7-12 pm. A mobile unit (micro-bus) is equipped with all necessary things for providing counselling: table, arm-chairs and gas-cooker, to offer tea to their night visitors.

As Igor Piskarev says, sex workers readily visit such mobile units, as they say they are treated like human beings there.

The mobile team consisting of a doctor, social worker and driver provide information, distribute brochures and booklets, as well as condoms - 10 peaces to each visitor.

“Humanitarian Action” offers support while testing and treating HIV and acquiring antiretroviral therapy.

“Outreach program for people, providing sex services for money, is supported by Medical Association of St-Petersburg”, says Igor Piskarev.

Contact person: Irina Maslova
Email: club.silver.rose@gmail.com
About Humanitarian Action
Website: www.humanitarianaction.org