Medical Assisted Therapy
Methadone Assisted Therapy/Treatment Department
JOOTRH has a methadone Assisted Therapy Treatment department has nursing officer in charge MOH/county government employee, two nursing officers, one MOH/county and another one employed by CIHEB(Center of International Health, Education and Bio study), one pharmacist and two pharm techs, two social workers, and four psychology counselors mostly volunteers.
The methadone assisted therapy clinic is a government of Kenya project under the ministry of health and county government of Kisumu and has a partner CIHEB (Center of International Health, Education and Bio study).
It’s the only one of it’s kind in the western region. Others are in Malindi, Mombasa to Nairobi,Kiambu and Nakuru.
The main goal of the department is to reduce/stop Opioid use in order to enhance health status, psychosocial well being and the quality of life for opioid dependent persons.
The department also has certain objectives.
- To reduce morbidity and mortality associated with illicit opioid drug use including drug overdose. This can be done through medications such as administering methadone, naloxone or clonidine to the affected patients.
- To reduce transmission of HIV and other blood-borne infections
- To reduce drug-related crime
- To enhance the drug user’s mental and physical stability plus self-esteem.
- To create an enabling environment that facilitates easy access to health care, adherence to treatment and social reintegration.
The department also has a motto, mission, core values and vision which provide unanimity of purpose to organizations and imbue the employees with a sense of belonging and identity.
Vision: A centre of excellence in quality health care services, training and research in East and central Africa.
Mission: To provide accessible, responsive, quality health care services through innovation, training and research.
Core values: Client-centeredness, professionalism, teamwork, integrity, environmental friendliness, equity, patriotism, and innovation.
Motto: flying high in healthcare.
The management style within the department is democratic as it involves the contribution and ideas of every member of the department. There is a mutual understanding relationship and above all the employees observe professional ethics which guide the daily operations within the department.
The department operates from Monday to Sunday including public holidays and it’s open from 7 am to 4 pm. They have dealt with 391 patients and out of the number 138 are still active.
Services offered
- Methadone treatment
They administer methadone to patients addicted to opioids to help them reduce or quit the use of opioids.
- HIV testing, treatment and prevention.
They offer HIV testing through the HIV testing kits after which one will be administered with the necessary approaches according to the outcome.
- TB testing and treatment
TB tests such as skin tests are done on the patients after which medication is administered. Some treatment measures include the use of isoniazid and rifampicin for 6 months.
- Hepatitis B and C testing, vaccination and treatment
Done through medical diagnosis and administering of antiviral drugs. Surgery is sometimes required when hepatitis B has severely damaged the liver.
- Screening and treatment of STIs
Through laboratory tests of body fluids and administering of antibiotics and antiviral drugs.
- Condom distribution
Distribution of condoms to aid in preventing HIV and STIs.
- Addiction counselling and psychosocial support
This is to help drug-dependent persons, especially those with the illicit opioid drug to withdraw from abusing the drugs.
- Community reintegration
It involves integrating back to the community interns of follow-ups and also community participation.
- Mental health assessment and treatment