Transcript Document

Beirut April 2011
Beirut April 2011
Beirut April 2011
Beirut April 2011
Beirut April 2011
Beirut April 2011
Harm Reduction Coalition
Policy Statement
on Auto-Disable Syringes
Dr Sharon Stancliff, Medical Director - New York Office
Auto-disable syringes
• WHO-UNICEF-UNFPA joint statement (1999)
– By the end of 2003, all countries should use only autodisable syringes for administering all immunizations
• UNICEF (2001)
– No longer enter into procurement contracts for standard
disposable syringes
• WHO guidelines for single use syringes (2007)
– Reuse prevention syringes prequalify for procurement
WHO: Safe syringes for injection safety
1. Reuse Prevention Feature
a) Auto-disable
b) Breaking plunger
2. Reuse and Needle Stick Prevention Features
a) Needle Stick Prevention
b) Retractable syringes
Issues
• Several countries moving towards exclusive import of
auto-disable syringes
• Syringe procurement strategies that don’t take the
needs of PWID into account
• Difficulty of “being heard” in countries where PWID
don’t have a voice
Unintended consequences
 Reduced availability of standard disposable syringes
 Auto-disable syringes generally not suited to drug
preparation and injection
 Modification of auto-disable syringes
 Difficult to effectively clean
 Circumvent auto-disable feature by sharing before
plunger fully depressed
Syringes Used by IDUs Vary in Size and Design
Low dead
space
High dead
space
Vietnam – HDSS 3ml detachable needle
(Front loading)