Uganda harm reduction network- (UHRN) Annual report 2017

Drug users are a socially hidden population with high risk behaviours, this group is one of the traditional key populations with a high HIV/STI burden. Revitalizing HIV prevention programs for drug users especially those who inject drugs is paramount. Efforts to involve drug users in programming could increase access to services to this hard to reach sub-populations. The needs and risks of people who use drugs require innovative, comprehensive and effective HIV, TB and HEPs prevention interventions.

Uganda Harm Reduction Network has conducted various activities throughout this year among which is the population size estimates and rapid assessment studies. The results of the survey data revealed that 80% of 95 respondents in Kampala and 63.3% of 30 in Mbale had tested for HIV in the past 12 months. Up to 9.2% of 76 respondents in Kampala who reported testing for HIV in the past 12 months were seropositive and none in Mbale indicating a higher HIV prevalence among the PWID in Kampala. This data suggests that the HIV prevalence for PWID in Kampala is higher than that of the general population in Uganda which is 6.0%.

Based on these results, it goes without mentioning that it is challenging to end HIV and AIDS by 2030 as required by the Sustainable Development Goals when a considerable sect of the general population; people who use and inject drugs whose specific needs with regard to HIV response are being ignored. Nationally there has been laxity in embracing essential HIV treatment and prevention strategies for people who use and inject drugs living with and affected by the epidemic thereby creating a situation of alienation of PWUIDs from the movement to end HIV and AIDs.

Uganda Harm Reduction Network therefore calls upon stakeholders to join hands, to embrace such essential harm reduction programs including Needle and Syringe Programs (NSP) and Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) as part of the HIV prevention strategies in Uganda to cater for the specific HIV response needs of PWUIDs if Uganda as a Nation is to end HIV/AIDS by 2030.