3MDG funds seven partners to provide Harm Reduction services for people who inject drugs. Metta Foundation leads a project on reduction of HIV prevalence through community-led harm reduction in Kachin State since April 2016. The aim is to reduce stigma and discrimination and increase acceptance of harm reduction services in the community.

1. What do you, and your organisation, do? 

My name is Sut Nau, and I am a programme coordinator of the Metta Development Foundation community-led harm reduction programme in Kachin State. Metta was established in 1998 to assist communities in Myanmar to recover from the devastating consequences of conflict and humanitarian emergency.

My role is overall coordination and management of the programme, ensuring we meet objectives and fulfil Metta’s mission and vision. I work closely with the community to encourage active participation and develop leadership.

2. What lead you to this role?

I joined Metta in 2006, straight after graduation. This was my first job. For the first three years I was based in Waingmaw as an area supervisor. I introduced harm reduction concepts to local AIDS committees and communities through workshops, trainings, and public HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns. Through our work, community perception on harm reduction gradually changed.

Since 2012 I have worked as a project coordinator, trying to create a more understanding platform for harm reduction activities through different advocacy measures with our stakeholders.

3. What motivates you?

Before I began to work here, I only dreamed of becoming rich and being able to work in my own business. But becoming a social worker made everything different.

I really, really love my job, and I am very proud of it. I work together with communities to make changes and build a peaceful society. Through my work I have learned so many things that have enriched my knowledge, skills and ways of thinking.

In my work I can see the situation on the ground, and that really motivates me. Drug issues in Kachin State are quite serious compared to the other states in Myanmar.

In 2007, my uncle passed away after having AIDS for three years. He did not get antiretroviral (ART) treatment as it was very difficult to access it. He had gotten HIV by injecting drugs. Some of my close friends have also died of HIV. That has made me very sad, but at the same time it motivates me to work with my whole heart.

Stigma and discrimination for people living with HIV is now reduced, but not towards people who inject drugs – it is even increasing. Many people believe that drug users are evil because they create problems in the community. Some have been sent to rehabilitation centres involuntarily. But this does not usually help drug users, in the worst cases it has pushed them to use more.

4. What challenges do you face in your work?

In the beginning, communities did not accept harm reduction, particularly methadone treatment and needle syringe exchange programme. People thought that encouraged people to use more drugs.

After advocacy meetings, trainings and workshops in the communities, they came to know the real meaning of harm reduction and what it stands for. Attitudes changed. But still, some communities outside our project areas continue to be strongly against the approach.

The arrest of people who use drugs and small-scale drug sellers instead of the bigger drug traffickers is also an issue – this means that people who use drugs cannot access harm reduction services.

5. What is the best part of your job?

In our process, I am the facilitator, but the community is the decision-maker and implementer. This ensures that communities are involved in and own the whole process, which is crucial for programme sustainability.

The programme is now lead by the local AIDS committees: they conduct regular meetings to find ways to solve problems and plan next steps. Through community mobilizing, 64 local AIDS committees have been formed across Kachin State, and I feel very proud of that.