Africa

*Field office updates will be provided as they are received

 

Kenya

Prevention of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS among drug users, injecting drug users and vulnerable populations in Kenya

Timeline: 2005-2013

Background

People have been injecting drugs in Kenya for more than two decades and evidence shows that this method of drug use is contributing to new HIV infections in the country. An analysis of modes of transmission carried out in 2007 indicates that injecting drug use and men having sex with men contribute to 15 per cent of new infections in Kenya.

Objectives

To enhance the capacity of the Government and of non-governmental organizations to prevent HIV among injecting drug users, sex workers who use drugs, inmates who use drugs and men who have sex with men (in some contexts), and to reduce the risk of HIV infection in these populations by:

  1. Facilitating a national assessment of HIV prevalence in the above populations
  2. Carrying out advocacy with key stakeholders including policymakers, decision makers, community leaders and faith-based organizations
  3. Facilitating the development of national polices and frameworks
  4. Scaling up and providing comprehensive services for the prevention of HIV

 

A comprehensive package for injecting drug users

  • Community and peer-based outreach activities
  • HIV testing and counselling
  • Antiretroviral therapy
  • Prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
  • Availability of condoms for injecting drug users and their partners
  • Targeted information, education and communication
  • Prevention and treatment of hepatitis C
  • Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis
  • Drug dependence treatment
  • Needle and syringe programmes and opiate substitution therapy (not presently available in Kenya)

Sites

The project is implemented in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi and Malindi.

Partnerships

The main partners are: the Government of Kenya (especially the Ministry of Health, the National AIDS Control Council, the National Agency for the Campaign against Drug Abuse Authority, and the prison and probation services), non-governmental organizations and the Kenya Joint UN Programme on AIDS.

Funding arrangements

Project budget: US$ 4,097,100

Donors: the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, theDepartment for International Development of the United Kingdom, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United States Agency for International Development.