Afghanistan

Projects:

  1. HIV/AIDS prevention and care for Afghan refugee drug users
  2. HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care for female injecting drug users and female prisoners in Afghanistan

 

Afghanistan

HIV/AIDS prevention and care for Afghan refugee drug users

Through this subregional project, UNODC aims to provide comprehensive HIV prevention and care services to Afghan refugees in Iran (Islamic Republic of) and Pakistan who use drugs and to former refugees who have returned to Afghanistan.

Timeline: March 2009 - 2011

Required funding: US$ 943,569

 

Background

There is a high rate of drug use among Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries and among returnees in Afghanistan. Injecting drug use is the main way in which HIV is transmitted in these populations and prevalence has been rising. The health consequences add to the hardships of displacement for individuals and families, as well as undermine prospects for successful reintegration.

 

Objectives

1. To strengthen the quality, access and use of HIV prevention and care services by registered Afghan refugees in the Islamic Republic of Iran, persons of concern to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan and returnees in Afghanistan.

2. To create an environment that supports a regional network of HIV prevention and care services across borders, encouraging continuation of services after voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugee drug users.

 

A comprehensive package

  • Community-based outreach through peer-to-peer education
  • Condom promotion and distribution
  • Treatment of sexually transmitted infections
  • Primary health care, including abscess management
  • Needle and syringe programmes
  • Opioid substitution therapy
  • Antiretroviral therapy, drug dependence treatment, psychosocial services, testing and treatment for tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C
  • Referral to voluntary HIV counselling and testing, antiretroviral therapy, drug dependence treatment, psychosocial services, as well as testing and treatment for tuberculosis and hepatitis C

 

Partnerships

The Governments of Afghanistan, Iran (Islamic Republic of) and Pakistan are signatories to the project. UNCHR and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) are our primary United Nations partner agencies. The International Organization for Migration and other non-governmental organizations implement the project.

 

Sites

In line with the strategy of the Government of Afghanistan and in order to complement the HIV/AIDS work of other organizations, the project targets sites in six provinces (see map): Kabul, Parwan, Baghlan, Ghazni, Jawzjan and Herat.

 

Funding arrangements

Project budget: US$ 1,888,569

Secured: 50 per cent

Donor: the Netherlands

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HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care for female injecting drug users and female prisoners in Afghanistan

This is a subregional project for the provision of a comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment and care package to female injecting and non-injecting drug users (including those involved in sex work and spouses of male drug users) in the community and in prison settings.

Background

More than two decades of war, violence and poverty have had a severe impact on Afghan women. Afghanistan ranks as fourth and second lowest in terms of standards of living and gender disparity related to standard of living respectively. The life expectancy of women at birth is 44 years. Polydrug use is common among female drug users, especially the combined use of opium and pharmaceuticals. No data is available on the prevalence of HIV among women in Afghanistan and very limited information is known on women's drug use and other risky behaviour.

Project objectives

  1. Establish and  strengthen comprehensive HIV service coverage to female injecting and non-injecting drug users in community and prison settings.
  2. Develop an enabling environment to provide gender-sensitive approaches to comprehensive HIV services.

A comprehensive package of services

  • Needle and syringe programmes
  • Referral for opioid substitution therapy and other drug dependence treatment
  • Voluntary confidential counselling and testing
  • Referral for antiretroviral therapy
  • Treatment of sexual transmitted infections
  • Provision of condoms
  • Targeted information, education and communication

Partnerships

The Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Counter-Narcotics, the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Ministry of Justice are the main partners in the Government. Non-governmental organizations implement the project.

Funding arrangements

Phase I: US$1,870,600 (fully funded)

Donor: Norway

Project duration: March 2008-March 2010

Phase II: US$1,300,000 shortfall

Services at communities (October 2008-December 2009)

Counselling N/S Condom Training Treatment for sexually transmitted infections
Voluntary counseliing and testing
Primary health care
3730 8791 13317 447 672 574 1975

 

 


Services at prisons for women (October 2008-December 2009)

Counselling N/S Condom Training Treatment for sexually transmitted infections Voluntary counseliing and testing Primary health care
3062 0 950 356 390 340 2202

 

 

 

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