"Reliable data provided by a Monitoring Centre would helps us to take political decisions"

• After your experience in the Vice-Presidency of the 70^th World Health Assembly in 2016. How do you assess the importance of international cooperation in promoting drugs policies based on the principles of public health in the Caribbean?

With regards to promoting drugs policies based on the principles of public health in the Caribbean, the Surinamese Government will do everything within its power and command to strengthen the International relationships and partnerships, so that this nationwide threat can be effectively faced. By working together, we coming from the Caribbean, can develop new structured strategies and ways to prevent the misuse of drugs in the society

• You underline the importance of the joint work. Which are, in your opinion, the main common challenges in relation to drugs in the region and to what extent can interregional and international dialogue contribute to address these challenges Caribbean countries?

The main challenges are providing adequate quality prevention and treatment to Caribbean people in a rapidly evolving globalizing world, where the needs of the individual are threatened to be oppressed; Developing innovative approaches considering we are dealing with reduced budgets; Enhancing our participation in this dialogue, as a necessary tool to exchange ideas and to learn from each other while implementing policies in each country has to be adapted to home situations.

• You emphasize the need to adopt comprehensive strategies to reduce drug demand. How important are for your country the different lines of action in this area and what do you consider should be prioritized within the drug policy strategy in Suriname in the coming years?

The National Anti-Drugs Council (Nationale Anti-Drug Raad, NAR) is fully supported by the Government to be implemented. Priority must be given to the drug treatment court, as the law has already been adopted but the organic laws are not yet in place. Attention is also drawn to cooperation between the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the PCS and the various treatment institutions. It is not yet clear who does what and who is responsible for the cost tag.

Other priority is the enhancement of data collection and analysis department of the NAR, called Suriname Epidemiological Network on Drugs (SURENDU). Currently, data collection takes place of the OAS Treatment data.

• It is interesting that Suriname is already collecting data, through your National Drugs Observatory -set up back in 2005 and relaunched in 2010, as a priority for the National Anti-Drug Council-. To which extent do you consider that the activities being developed in COPOLAD can support this effort?

By providing learning experiences of other countries from the region and facilitating assistance from COPOLAD. This can be a special support for the re-activation of the data collecting network SURENDU.

• To what extent does having reliable data on prevalence in the country contribute to, or enhance, joint actions to address prevention and treatment?

It contributes in decision-making and policy planning on the level of the National Anti-Drugs Council and the different prevention and treatment institutions. Help to cater quality and evidence based prevention and treatment services to specific target groups like out of school youth, single parent homes, poor neighbourhoods and schools.

• We observe that underlines the importance of the quality in the field of treatment and prevention. In this way, we noted that you incorporate harm reduction in this national strategy. Could you explain in more detail how this area of intervention is articulated in your country?

In the National Drugs Master Plan under intervention area 5, it is contemplated to provide special facilities for drug-dependent homeless people and sex workers, as well as to take special precautions for vulnerable groups: e.g. Street drug users and sex workers. According to those previsions, in our country, the "Harm Reduction" approach is more focused on the rights of these vulnerable groups to access healthcare and information about care; protecting their human rights. Care will not be taken in the form of compulsion but by informing them about the possible harmful effects of sex work and drug use. Information is also provided on how to minimize potential damage and where it is possible to get further assistance and guidance.

For some examples, see the Environmental Assistance Project of the Office of Roofing and Homelessness of Labour Community for Health and the Outreach Project of Stg. Loving Hands.