Saatja: Ganna Dovbakh <
[email protected]>
Saadetud: 11.04.2022 16:59
Adressaat: Tanel Kiik <
[email protected]>
Koopia: Igor Gordon <
[email protected]>; Maarjo Mändmaa
<
[email protected]>; <
[email protected]>; SM Info
<
[email protected]>
Teema: On the National Institute for Health Development restructuring
Dear Minister Kiik,
On behalf of the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) I would like
to express our concern regarding the planned restructuring of The
National Institute for Health Development (NIHD).
During the last 15 years, we were proud of our Estonian public health
colleagues in their comprehensive and sustainable public response to HIV,
HCV, TB and in support to different harm reduction programs, as well as
the introduction of innovative approaches. Such joint state and community
programs were the best example and practice for learning for all other
countries of the CEECA region.
Thanks to the close, long-term cooperation of Estonian civil society and
community organizations with the NIHD, Estonia launched one of the most
progressive programs for people who use drugs in the region and managed
to reduce overdose rates, divert people from prison, improve access of
people who use drugs to health and social services and reduce the
prevalence of HIV among key population groups. Community representatives
are successfully implementing projects aimed at working with vulnerable
populations such as people living with HIV and people with problematic
drug use. Given the high level of discrimination against these groups,
and in accordance with UNAIDS guiding principles on the meaningful and
measurable involvement of civil society, especially people living with
HIV and populations most at risk of HIV infection, the involvement of
community representatives in the decision-making processes and
development of services is essential.
We hope that Estonian government agencies will continue to adhere to the
same principles of meaningful involvement and cooperation with civil
society and ensure the sustainability and quality of harm reduction
services.
We urge the Estonian government to:
* Suspend the process of liquidation of NIHD until the situation with
the COVID epidemic and the crisis that arose due to the influx of war
refugees from Ukraine stabilizes
* Involve community representatives, service providers and other
stakeholders in the decision-making process and come up with a clear
transition plan to ensure the continuity and sustainability of services
and maintain their quality during the transition.
With hope for further fruitful cooperation.
Sincerely yours,
Ganna Dovbakh
Executive Director
Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA)
Verkiø st. 34b, 7 fl., Vilnius, LT-08221 Lithuania
Tel. +370 62010630
Cell: +37068887975│ Skype: anna.dovbakh
April 11, 2022
To: The Honorable Mr. Tanel Kiik
Minister of Health and Labour
of the Republic of Estonia
Cc: Maarjo Mändmaa,
Secretary General of the Ministry of
Social Affairs
of the Republic of Estonia
Cc: Social Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu
Dear Minister Kiik,
On behalf of Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA)1 we would like to express our
concern regarding the planned restructuring of The National Institute for Health Development
(NIHD).
Thanks to the close, long-term cooperation of Estonian civil society and community
organizations with the NIHD, Estonia launched one of the most progressive programs for
people who use drugs in the region and managed to reduce overdose rates, divert people from
prison, improve access of people who use drugs to health and social services and reduce the
prevalence of HIV among key population groups. Community representatives are successfully
implementing projects aimed at working with vulnerable populations such as people living
with HIV and people with problematic drug use. Given the high level of discrimination against
these groups, and in accordance with UNAIDS guiding principles on the meaningful and
measurable involvement of civil society, especially people living with HIV and populations
most at risk of HIV infection, the involvement of community representatives in the decision-
making processes and development of services is essential.
1
Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) is a not-for-profit public membership-based organization uniting
harm reduction activists and organisations from Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA) with its
mission to actively unite and support communities and civil societies to ensure the rights and freedoms, health,
and well-being of people who use psychoactive substances in the CEECA region.
https://harmreductioneurasia.org Eurasian Harm Reduction Association @EHRAssociation
Address: Gedimino av. 45-4, 01109,
Vilnius, Lithuania
[email protected] Tel.: +370 68887975 @EHRA2017
Registration code: 304470687
We hope that Estonian government agencies will continue to adhere to the same principles of
meaningful involvement and cooperation with civil society and ensure the sustainability and
quality of harm reduction services.
We urge the Estonian government to:
• Suspend the process of liquidation of NIHD until the situation with the COVID
epidemic and the crisis that arose due to the influx of war refugees from Ukraine
stabilizes
• Involve community representatives, service providers and other stakeholders in the
decision-making process and come up with a clear transition plan to ensure the
continuity and sustainability of services and maintain their quality during the transition.
Yours faithfully,
Ganna Dovbakh
Executive Director of the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association
+370 688 87975
[email protected]
https://harmreductioneurasia.org Eurasian Harm Reduction Association @EHRAssociation
Address: Gedimino av. 45-4, 01109,
Vilnius, Lithuania
[email protected] Tel.: +370 68887975 @EHRA2017
Registration code: 304470687