Dear Representatives of the Ministry of Health and Barysau municipality, Dear guests of the Media,
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, jointly with the representatives of the Ministry of Health, UNAIDS, the narcological service of Belarus and Barysau municipality we are opening the 13th methadone substitution therapy point in Belarus. I would like to confirm how crucial for the success of the methadone substitution program in Belarus is the commitment of the Ministry of Health to this program and to the implementation of the Global Fund grants in general in Belarus.

I am proud that the methadone substitution point is now opened here in Barysau, and I sincerely hope that in this case being the methadone point #13 for opening, it will be the lucky number for this program.

Substitution therapy began in Belarus with the pilot project launched in 2007 in Homiel with the assistance of the grant of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Currently, almost 800 IDUs – both men and women - have been reached with methadone substitution therapy.  Methadone points have been open in 12 cities with highest HIV prevalence and drug use. This year, we are planning to open 3 more points in Lida, Rechyca, and the third point in Minsk.

The globally proven value of the substitution therapy is to provide people who use drugs with the opportunity to discontinue using illicit intravenous drugs, break off contacts with the criminal circles and eliminate conflicts with the law enforcement agencies, improve their health, stabilize their lives and find jobs. In Belarus, we can see methadone program working. We have records where most of the methadone therapy patients have managed to reestablish social contacts, their criminalization decreased to a minimum, they have restored family relations and their health, many have found jobs. The very important objective of this program is the reduction of HIV transmission through needle sharing practices and HIV prevention of the population. Oral intake of medical methadone excludes HIV transmission through needle sharing.

All CIS countries with the exception of Russia use methadone substitution therapy as a successful method of treating opioid dependency.

Unfortunately, the information spread in some of the mass media is often presented in a subjective way. As a result, some of the general public see methadone substitution therapy as an attempt to legalize drugs which is not the case.

Substitution therapy should be viewed as part of the continuum of care programme for the drug dependent patients, to return them to healthy life in the society and to seize criminal search for illicit drugs. The cost of medical methadone per day is less than a dollar. This is at least 50 times less than the cost of street drugs with $50 per doze. Additionally, obtaining the money to buy illicit drugs is often related to criminal activities. Thus, the very positive socio- economical impact of the program for the society could not be underestimated. Needless to say that for the patients at the moment the treatment is provided free of charge thanks to the funding of the program by the Global Fund.

I would like to thank the Head Doctor of Barysau hospital and its specialists, the authorities of the city of Barysau and the Ministry of Health for their commitment and leadership in launching this new substitution programme in their city and wish success to the programme and good health to its patients and their families.

Thank you.

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