Socialcast IDU Group

Dear IDU Bloggers,

The IDU Blog, now about 2 years old, is rapidly being superceded by the IDU group on Socialcast.

Currently, messages sent to the Blog are automatically streamed onto Socialcast. Those of you who are signed up for the Blog and Socialcast IDU group will have noticed that duplication.

To avoid that issue, increasingly, we will disseminate information directly through Socialcast, rather than from the Blog. So, if you have not done so already, please take a few seconds and sign up for the IDU group on Socialcast, by going to:

https://psi-org.socialcast.com/groups/injectingdrugusers

In the near future, we will decide whether or not to keep this blog running, or just switch everything over to Socialcast.

Cheers for now
Rob

Harm Reduction Conference - Lebanon - Film Submissions

In April 2011 the Int'l Harm Reduction conference will be held in Beirut, Lebanon.

Call for Submissions
The Film Festival of the IHRA conference screens documentaries, advocacy films, training videos, and fictional work relevant to reducing drug and alcohol related harms. Films shown at the event have subsequently been used for advocacy purposes in many countries.

Film Submission Deadlines
Film abstracts close on Friday 17th December 2010

For further information please email the Drugs & Harm Reduction Film Fest Committee:

filmfest@burnet.edu.au.
or go to:

http://www.burnet.edu.au/freestyler/gui/media/Call%20for%20Film%20Submissions%202011.pdf

New HCV Test Predicts Treatment Success

The following fact sheet on Hepatitis C testing discusses new genetic tests which can be used as a tool in treatment decisions. The tests look at the genetic characteristics of an individual and predict their chance of treatment success.
http://www.hep.org.au/documents/factsheets/TestingOverview2010-200MB.pdf

Additional fact sheets are available here on a wide range of topics related to HCV.

Beth

Rapid Hepatitis C Testing Now Available

The FDA recently approved Orasure Technologies rapid HCV (hepatitis C virus) test. http://www.orasure.com/products-infectious/products-infectious-oraquick-hcv.asp
Orasure is selling the test for less than $2 U.S. per unit ($1,950 for 1,000 tests).

PSI/Washington can procure the tests if a platform is interested in adding HCV testing to its IDU program. The FDA approval is sufficient for USAID-funded programs but the procurement department can also assist in determining if additional registration or approval is needed in country.

NOTE: If a platform adds HCV testing to its programs, strong linkages to treatment are a must.

For more information on HCV testing procurement, contact Ken Bonneville at kbonneville@psi.org. For information on program design contact Rob (robgray@laopdr.com) or me (eskorochod@psi.org).

Beth