We started our contingency plan in the week of 10th March to start our adapted work on 13th Friday. We want to keep our services open as long as possible – so we keep a part of the team home at stand-by. In case healthcare providers get ill, we have a backup team. All healthcare providers work behind plexiglass protection, with masks. Healthcare providers do keep contact with clients by telephone, Whatsapp, Messenger, video calls… We have regular Zoom meetings between all coordinators (3 times a week), updating the measures and keeping the ball rolling. All other meetings between healthcare providers are with Zoom.

At the low-threshold centre people have to come in one by one (with a maximum of 4 people in the waiting room), can see a doctor for medication, or a nurse for wound care. Social service is limited to crisis and new intakes. We think it is important that new clients can enter the program in these times.
All people who use the services of Free Clinic can get a paper which proves that they need to come to the Free Clinic for healthcare services. (Because in Belgium there is a lockdown and “unneeded transport” is not allowed.)

OAT schemes are adapted, people who are very stable get more dosages to take home with them. We try to give as many medications as possible – so that people do not need to come as many as they used to.

Needle exchange programme keeps working also behind protective plexiglass. It gives more sterile equipment and does not worry if they return the equipments back. Of course, we still stimulate people to do so. This is also communicated with our funder, the Flemish government.

The C-Buddy project keeps on working and has weekly consultation with the liver specialist. Maximum 4 people can come to the consultation, but people can still start their Hep C-Treatment – these are the more stable people who do not need that much support. Support is brought back to a minimum level – depending on the need. Few people with COPD get extra support.

The activation and drop-in centre is open all days – giving soup and coffee outside. People can sit there for a while with respect to distance.

This week we started a mask-exchange for all clients of the Free Clinic. PWUD get a homemade mask, advise and get sensitised. They can bring back the mask the next day, and get a newly washed one. This exchange takes place in the needle exchange.

Tessa Winelinckx