Bridging the Gaps 2 - PWUD project Kenya

Kenya (population 45 million) is an East-African country on the Indian Ocean that borders Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, South-Sudan and Ethiopia. Well known for its wildlife parks and safaris, it also has a history of terrorist attacks. Over the years, due to its strategic location, Kenya has become an important transit hub for heroin from South-East Asia. HIV has seriously affected the general population as well as key populations such as People Who Inject Drug (PWID), whose HIV prevalence is estimated to be over 18%. With the introduction of needle and syringe programs, harm reduction services first became available in 2011, followed by methadone treatment in 2014. Mainline started supporting local NGOs that work with drug users in 2012 in offering outreach services, Needles and Syringe Programmes (NSP), nutritional support, advocacy for health and human rights. Mainline started working in Kenya during the first Bridging the Gaps program in 2012. MEWA is the main implementing partner under BtG2 in Kenya.