WELCOME TO SARA HOMEPAGE !

SARA မွၾကိဳဆိုပါသည္။

Sky Bow Tower, Corner of Bayintnaung Main Road and Kagyi 5th Street, Insein Myo Thit Ward, Insein Township, Yangon, MYANMAR.

Phone : 0973040097, 09250970469

About S.A.R.A မူးယစ္ေဆးစြဲေရာဂါသုေတသနအသင္း

Substance Abuse Research Association (SARA)

SARA is a legally registered local NGO in Myanmar.

SARA was founded in June, 1999 with the following Mission and Objectives.

Mission statement

SARA’s mission is to take the lead in introducing research tools to conduct scientific research in the field of drug abuse and drug abuse related HIV in Myanmar and advocate for evidence-based approaches in conducting prevention programmes.

 

Objectives

  1. To conduct drug abuse research in the fields of epidemiology, prevention intervention research, with the aim of generating information for health policy makers.
  2. To set-up community-based infrastructures for conducting drug abuse and HIV research and prevention activities.

 

Past Activities

1. Research on estimating incidence of HIV among IDUs in Lashio Township.
This project was done in Lashio township in collaboration with the National Drug Abuse Research Council (NDARC) of University of New South Wales in Sydney. The project was funded by Ausaid and was implemented under the UNODC/HAARP Project.

2. SARA Executive Committee members were involved in clinical trial research to develop a non-opiate drug detoxification regime using a Myanmar Traditional Medicine.

3. ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY IN HARM REDUCTION

 

The Family Friend Project in Myitkyina

SARA is currently implementing an innovative harm reduction project funded by 3DF (now with 3MDG) in Myitkyina together with the Myitkyina Anglican Diocesan Council. The new comprehensive approach utilises and encourages family participation and involvement in

  1. Prevention of drug abuse
  2. Prevention of transition to injecting drug use
  3. Motivating drug users to accept treatment
  4. Referrals to drug treatment and Methadone maintenance
  5. Preventing relapse of drug use
  6. Preventing HIV infection due to drug use

Underlying Principle: Sharing the family burden in preventing their drug using child from being infected with HIV infection and facilitating drug abuse treatment.

Highlight on Experiences

  1. SARA conducted the first ever urban community-based drug abuse survey through The Drug abuse Epidemiologic Catchment Area project (DECA), in October, 1999 in Thingangyun Township with funding from UNODC Myanmar Office. 
  2. SARA launched the first Drug Education for Parents Project in Thingangyun Township with the help of Drug Abuse Prevention Council grant from UNODC Myanmar Office, in the year 2000.
  3. SARA conducted a front-runner project for Harm Reduction projects in Myanmar, with funding support from UNODC/UNAIDS,   “Introducing Outreach activities for HIV/AIDS prevention among injecting drug users in 2 pilot townships in Northern Myanmar Project”.

The one-year project launched in 2002-03, was for drug abuse and HIV prevention intervention through Out-reach activities in two townships, Myitkyina in Kachin State and Lashio, in Northern Shan States.  This project provided invaluable information and experience and "best practices" in the development of methodologies to conduct outreach activities for drug users who are out of reach of any drug abuse intervention programmes.

  1. SARA conducted Drug Education programmes for Parents and Youths in Sanchaung Township (2003) and Insein Township (2006) with funding assistance from the DAPC/UNODC grants.
  2. Networking with Faith-based Organizations and International Youth Networks.

SARA has been designated as the focal point for drug abuse prevention program among youths which is sponsored by Global Youth Network (Asia and Pacific Region), UNODC Bangkok since 2005. 

6.   SARA has been conducting Harm Reduction Interventions in Kachin, North Shan and Sagaing Regions with funding support from 3MDG, Global Fund/Save the Children in altogether 11 Townships.

7.   SARA is also working in Namatee Township and Shaduzup village to increase HIV testing and increase access to ART for people who inject drugs and their families, with the support of Clinton Health Access Initiative.

        8.   SARA conducted a Joint-Training Program with Drug Advisory Programme of Colombo Plan, the ToT on Life Skills for Youth on Drug Use Prevention from  16th to 20th of November, 2015.  SARA will extend this ToT to all project sites in 2016.
 

Current on-going projects (2018)

SARA is conducting Harm Reduction projects in Myitkyina, Namatee, Moehnyin, Momauk and Mansi Townships in the Kachin Region (3MDG fund) and Ban Mauk in Sagaing Regions (Global Fund/Save the Children/Alliance).
SARA is also conducting Drug Use Prevention Projects in Kachin, North Shan, Sagaing and Kayin Regions with the funds from International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the US Embassy in Yangon.
SARA is also working with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) to increase access to ART for people who use drugs and their families in Namatee Township.
 

Research projects

SARA conducted two research projects on the Epidemiology of drug use among migrant workers who toil in the gold prospecting sites in Hopin Township.
 

Manpower

SARA is currently run by more than 200 field staff and 30 staff in Yangon Headquarters.