Ep 07: No-one left behind: How the MSIR responded to COVID-19

The Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) is a program of North Richmond Community Health, and the facility has remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as an essential health service to help support people who inject drugs. Staff have worked with a simple goal in mind: to make sure no one is left behind. In practice, this meant both staff and clients have had to adapt to every new challenge presented by the pandemic. 

 

Today we discuss how they implemented measures to ensure the MSIR could safely remain open during a pandemic so that it could continue to save lives and reduce pressure on Victoria’s public health and hospital system. We also talk to MSIR clients about their experience with the clinic, and staff members discuss the heart of their roles and the broader objectives of the clinic.

Guests:

Dr. Nico Clark,  MSIR’s Medical Director 

Sarah Hiley, Team Leader of the Harm Reduction Practitioner team