HIV means going backwards on important public health gains like malaria and TB, It also means going back in our economic growth. There is no particular reason why less developed countries should universally reject harm reduction. The likelihood is that some will enthusiastically embrace harm reduction while others will just as vehemently reject harm reduction, Some will vacillate. This is the same picture which has occurred in the industrialised world. One of the major contributions that developed countries can make in harm reduction is to support the implementation of harm reduction policies in less developed countries.
Financial assistance is always welcome in countries where resources are extremely scarce.
In some cases, the establishment of public health based harm reduction interventions can only be achieved with modest assistance in the form of funding pilot projects. However, more than just financial support, technical assistance is equally important. Harm reduction began in the developed countries and that is where most of the experience of these approaches is to be found. As with any other area of activity, experience teaches us how to apply strategies more effectively and avoid mistakes learnt in the past. These are the major conclusions of this article.