To win war against HIV infection, we must tackle drug addiction

World Aids Day is commemorated every December 1 and this year’s theme is HIV prevention. UNAIDS, while releasing this year’s theme, stated that despite the progress made against HIV over the past 15 years and the availability of proven prevention and treatment methods, the annual number of new HIV infections among adults has remained static, at an estimated 1.9 million a year since 2010.

Moreover, there has been resurgence of new HIV infections among key populations in some parts of the world.

An estimated 1.6 million people are living with HIV in Kenya and total new HIV infections are estimated to have declined by about 15 per cent in the last five years; from about 116,000 in 2009 to about 98,000 in 2013. Over 80 per cent of the total new HIV infections in the country occur among adults annually (KAIS, 2014).

The Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework 2014/15-2018/2019 highlights that key populations are the key drivers of the epidemic contributing significantly to new infections.

Key populations comprise of sex workers contributing about 14 per cent, men who have sex with men (MSM) 15 per cent, people who inject drugs 3.8 per cent, Casual heterosexual sex 20 per cent and heterosexual sex among people in marriage relationships contributing 44 per cent of total new HIV infections.

There are an estimated 18,327 injecting drug users in Kenya (NASCOP, 2013), with a HIV prevalence of 18.3 per cent within themselves, three times higher than that of the general population. There is evidence that more and more Kenyan youths (primary school, secondary school and higher institutions) are getting addicted to drug use.

In this regard, HIV prevention efforts should therefore be targeted at the people who use drugs to implement Harm Reduction Programmes. Harm reduction refers to policies, programmes and practices that aim primarily to reduce the adverse health, social and economic consequences of the use of legal and illegal psychoactive drugs.

Harm reduction benefits people who use drugs, their families and the community. This means that Harm reduction programmes give way for rehabilitation of drug users which eventually leads to reduction of drug consumption.

Currently, it is illegal to be in possession of drugs in Kenya according to Drugs Policy CAP 245. KANCO also advocates for a review of this policy as it is restrictive and punitive.

There are situations where the drug users are beaten by the police when intoxicated instead of getting medical help. This also makes it difficult to work within the communities.

As we celebrate this year’s World AIDS Day, let us strive to invest in Harm reduction for HIV prevention and close the HIV gap among people who inject drugs.

Gorety Apondi is the Development and Communication Advisor-KANCO