Médecins Sans Frontières - Webclip - Opioid Substitution Clinic, Fernando's story (INTER)

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSB96207

Date taken / Date Recorded 19/08/2021 12:53 AM

Country Mozambique

Commissioning section MSF-SWITZERLAND

Photographer / videographer / producer António Mabuie

Copyright António Mabuie/MSF

Usage Rights (MSF) External Media, MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available yes

Editor's rating ★★★ (F)

Video format h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 3m23s

Maximum Size 1920px × 1080px 629.56 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist SCRIPT - Fernando (focus Opioid Substitution Therapy)

Mozambique, Maputo

Fernando Horácio William Pearson, 37

MSF Patient

(Subs)
People used to run away
from me in the street
I smelled bad,
I didn't take showers,
I didn't cut my hair or my nails.
I was…
I was a living dead.
Yes, living dead
is all I can say.

(Txt)
Fernando first started using drugs at the age of 11,
starting with cannabis and later moving to hard drugs.

He moved from Maputo to the province of Cabo Delgado,
where he worked as a veterinarian and this is where he started to use heroin.

(Subs)
When I arrived, I was single,
but I met someone, and we moved in together
I used to go home and smoke heroin.
I had no shame,
and I smoked in front of her.

(Txt)
Fernando’s wife also got addicted to heroin.
But her health was deteriorating, and they discovered
she was suffering from hepatitis.

(Subs) At the time, here in Mozambique
there were still no specific treatments,
nor ways to detect that the person
has hepatitis.

She passed away,
a week after we learned
she had hepatitis.
A week later, it didn't take long,
it was quick.
She was only at the
hospital for two days.
She died in my arms.
She had a seizure.
I saw her go.
I was enraged when
I left the hospital.
The first thing I did was
Go and buy all the heroin I could
with the money I had.
I wanted to inject myself
with large amounts so I would be gone too.
I felt guilty that she had died.

Jurema Xavier
Fernando’s sister

(Subs)
We had to be careful with him
because wherever he was,
he stole in order to support
his addiction, and I was one of the victims.

What we have to do, even if it hurts,
and it does hurt, we have to fight with them and
make them come to the good side.

(Txt)
After he tried to kill himself
several times, Fernando decided
to seek help at the MSF’s clinic in Maputo.

The only Opioid Substitution Clinic of its kind in Mozambique, started operating in February 2020.
It provides patients with methadone treatment which allows them to reduce or cease injecting drugs, and greatly reducing their risk of HIV infection. For many, it means reclaiming active and meaningful lives. The clinic also offers counselling and psychological support, and treatment for HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

Fernando was among the first patients who started treatment.

(Subs Fernando)

I believe that we change with God,
but medication helps us to improve even more.

Methadone
works wonders.

Yesterday I was a diamond in the rough,
today I am a polished diamond. Or I am turning into one.

(Txt)
Today, Fernando raises awareness among people who use drugs, he inspires them by showing that there is a way out. He works with pets and wants to set up his own pet shop. He also aspires to open a car wash, where he would employ drug users in recovery.