ID: HR19-555

Presenting author: Wangari Kimemia

Presenting author biography:

Wangari Kimemia holds Bachelor of Education and Master of Arts in Sociology. She is currently pursuing PhD in Sociology (Gender). She has been the Training Officer in Medecins du Monde Harm Reduction Program in Kenya for 3 years and Advocacy Officer since May 2018.

Mitigating Violence against People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) through Peer-Led Police Engagement

Wangari Kimemia

TYPE: Oral
TRACK: Practice
AUTHORS: Wangari Kimemia, Médecins du Monde
TITLE: Mitigating Violence against People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) through Peer-Led Police Engagement

ABSTRACT
Issue
In Kenya, drug use is criminalized consequently resulting in violence and unsafe environment, which are known barriers of access to Harm Reduction services for people who inject drugs (PWID). Kenya Polling Booth Survey (2015) reveals that 43% of PWID had experienced violence from law enforcers while injecting drugs in the six months preceding the study. National and STIs Coordinating Program (NASCOP, 2015) emphasizes that violence increases coercion to share needles which can directly increase risk to HIV.

Setting
Kenya is one of the major drug-trafficking routes in East Africa (UNODC, 2018) with roughly 18,000 people who inject drugs (PWID) in the country. The HIV and Hepatitis C prevalences among PWID are 18.7% and 20-40% respectively. Médecins Du Monde (MdM) has been implementing a peer-led comprehensive Harm Reduction program for PWID in Nairobi County since 2013. The community of PWID is engaged in the strategy, planning and implementation including in police sensitizations.

Project
The peer-led police engagement was conceived from the realization that police are not inherently hostile towards PWID and for sustainability. The model involves the program peer educators engaging the police in face-to-face sensitizations and dialogue days. Peer educators with support from program staff sensitize the police and the two parties engage in a coordinated discussion.

Outcome
332 police officers (field staff and their supervisors) have been sensitized and 3 dialogue days. Program data shows reduced confiscation of NSP materials by police, greatly reduced police raids, arbitrary arrests and raids. The relationship between PWID community and police has been greatly enhanced. The PWID community has gained confidence in approaching the police and as well becoming more accountable and more cooperative in public security matters.