Alarm over quick spread of HIV among drug users

[Guest guest]

Who'd have predicted that Kenyans would use drugs 15 yrs ago.This is

sad and especially becouse it's mostly young Kenyans .

NEWS EXTRA

Alarm over quick spread of HIV among drug users

Story by PATRICK MAYOYO

Publication Date: 1/18/2007

Concern is being raised over reports that HIV and Aids are spreading

fast among intravenous drug users at the Coast.

Dr Njenga, chairman of the National Agency for the Campaign

Against Drug Abuse (Nacada) advisory board, says studies show that 68

per cent of drug abusers are HIV positive.

This is alarming news for a country with more than 1.3 million

HIV-positive people, and where over 140,000 die of the virus every

year. More than 1.1 million children have been orphaned by the

disease.

Another study by World Heath Organisation (WHO) consultant Maurice

Odek-Ogunde — conducted in Nairobi and Mombasa — says spread of

HIV/Aids among needle-sharing drug users has created an alarming

dimension to campaigns against the pandemic.

There have been recommendations by various studies on establishment of

a needle exchange programme. In this, drug addicts would access clean

needles and receive information on HIV/Aids and other diseases.

But the Government has opposed such a programme, saying it would

encourage drug abuse.

As a result, many intravenous drug users are continuing with their

dangerous habits. Some are aware of the implications of their actions

while many are blissfully oblivious of the dangers the expose

themselves to.

The United States International Development Agency (USAID) and the

United Nations Office Drug and Crime have come up with a programme to

rehabilitate HIV/Aids positive drug users.

Mr Farouk Saad, chairman of the Mombasa-based Citizens Against Child

and Drug Abuse (Cicada), says: " We have about 20 people at Reach Out

Rehabilitation Centre in Likoni, following sponsorship by the UN's

drug and crime office. Other cases are yet to get attention. "

The trustee and founder of Reach Out Centre Trust, Mr Murad A Saad,

who recently won a UN award for his efforts to combat drug abuse, says

about 75 per cent of the drug users they handle are HIV positive. He

adds that there are between 16,000 and 20,000 heroin addicts at the

coast, according to a new research.

" Of this, 35 per cent are injecting drug users — 40 to 50 per cent of

whom are HIV positive. "

Research by concerned international agencies indicate there are more

than 10 million injecting drug users in the world, 3.3 million of whom

are HIV positive. They represents five to 11 per cent of the global

HIV/Aids cases.

In some cities, HIV spread among drug users has increased dramatically

— up to 40 per cent in a couple of years.

In Kenya, statistics paint a grim picture. Although there is an

increasing number of intravenous drug users, there are no programmes

to address the problem.

A study by the UN office shows a high prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis

C among injecting drug users in eastern Africa.

The study was by Prof Ndetei and researchers at the University

of Nairobi. It estimated the prevalence rate in Kenya at 68 to 88 per

cent.

The study revealed a serious lack of awareness among stakeholders on

the association between drug abuse, needle sharing and HIV/Aids.

The Rapid Situation Assessment listed Coast and Nairobi as the

provinces worst hit by intravenous drug use.

" Knowledge that HIV can be transmitted through contaminated needles

did not deter the users. Even those who are HIV positive still share

needles and engage in unprotected sex, " it says.

Most drug abusers are young and sexually active. Condom use among them

is very low. The age of the first sexual activity is 11 to 20 years,

although a small proportion started at 10 years.

A sero-prevalence survey in Mombasa among 120 drug abusers, including

injecting ones, indicated a high rate of Hepatitis C and HIV

infection.

" Two out of three users tested positive for Hepatitis C and one in two

for HIV/Aids. Out of seven injecting drug users (women), six tested

positive for HIV/Aids and five for Hepatitis C. "

Most of those affected were young — 55 per cent aged 17-30 years, and

90 per cent 17 to 40 years.

The report says injecting drug use is increasing in Kenya, and that

this has a high correlation with HIV spread.

It says appropriate policies on the issue should be developed.

Mr Saad of Reach Out Centre asks the Government to review its position

on a needle exchange programme. " If each injecting drug user had his

or her own syringes, chances of spreading HIV/Aids amongst them would

be almost zero. "

The controversial programme is said to have succeeded in other parts

of the world. The UN office says harm reduction schemes, including

provision of needles and syringes to drug users, have helped reduce

HIV cases in Eastern Europe, UK, USA, Australia and Pakistani.

Research by the UN and other international bodies shows minimal, if

any, increase in the number of injecting drug users as a result of

such programmes.

The same goes for the frequency of injections and of blood-borne viral

infections.

A report by the Australian National Council on Drugs and the

Australian National Council of Aids and Hepatitis Related Diseases

shows that needle and syringe exchange programmes prevented 25,000 HIV

infections by 2000. The programmes are projected to prevent 5,000

HIV-related deaths by 2010.

" It is clear from the research findings that where harm reduction

programmes are in place, cases of addiction, injection and HIV have

reduced, " Mr Murad said.

However, Dr Njenga says the Government intends to supply drug abusers

with hypodermic syringes to curb the spread of Aids.

" Drug abuse, especially among those who inject themselves, has reached

alarming proportions. We are coming up with a comprehensive strategy

on the issue. "

He said HIV cases among intravenous drug abusers at the Coast had

reached worrying proportions: " Recent studies show that 68 per cent of

intravenous drug abusers are HIV positive. "

He said the Government could soon adopt the controversial harm

reduction system.

" The issue was put on hold because it is culturally sensitive. But

creation of awareness on it is going on. We may adopt the strategy as

it is the most strategic way of dealing with the problem. "

[Guest guest]

Who'd have predicted that Kenyans would use drugs 15 yrs ago.This is

sad and especially becouse it's mostly young Kenyans .

NEWS EXTRA

Alarm over quick spread of HIV among drug users

Story by PATRICK MAYOYO

Publication Date: 1/18/2007

Concern is being raised over reports that HIV and Aids are spreading

fast among intravenous drug users at the Coast.

Dr Njenga, chairman of the National Agency for the Campaign

Against Drug Abuse (Nacada) advisory board, says studies show that 68

per cent of drug abusers are HIV positive.

This is alarming news for a country with more than 1.3 million

HIV-positive people, and where over 140,000 die of the virus every

year. More than 1.1 million children have been orphaned by the

disease.

Another study by World Heath Organisation (WHO) consultant Maurice

Odek-Ogunde — conducted in Nairobi and Mombasa — says spread of

HIV/Aids among needle-sharing drug users has created an alarming

dimension to campaigns against the pandemic.

There have been recommendations by various studies on establishment of

a needle exchange programme. In this, drug addicts would access clean

needles and receive information on HIV/Aids and other diseases.

But the Government has opposed such a programme, saying it would

encourage drug abuse.

As a result, many intravenous drug users are continuing with their

dangerous habits. Some are aware of the implications of their actions

while many are blissfully oblivious of the dangers the expose

themselves to.

The United States International Development Agency (USAID) and the

United Nations Office Drug and Crime have come up with a programme to

rehabilitate HIV/Aids positive drug users.

Mr Farouk Saad, chairman of the Mombasa-based Citizens Against Child

and Drug Abuse (Cicada), says: " We have about 20 people at Reach Out

Rehabilitation Centre in Likoni, following sponsorship by the UN's

drug and crime office. Other cases are yet to get attention. "

The trustee and founder of Reach Out Centre Trust, Mr Murad A Saad,

who recently won a UN award for his efforts to combat drug abuse, says

about 75 per cent of the drug users they handle are HIV positive. He

adds that there are between 16,000 and 20,000 heroin addicts at the

coast, according to a new research.

" Of this, 35 per cent are injecting drug users — 40 to 50 per cent of

whom are HIV positive. "

Research by concerned international agencies indicate there are more

than 10 million injecting drug users in the world, 3.3 million of whom

are HIV positive. They represents five to 11 per cent of the global

HIV/Aids cases.

In some cities, HIV spread among drug users has increased dramatically

— up to 40 per cent in a couple of years.

In Kenya, statistics paint a grim picture. Although there is an

increasing number of intravenous drug users, there are no programmes

to address the problem.

A study by the UN office shows a high prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis

C among injecting drug users in eastern Africa.

The study was by Prof Ndetei and researchers at the University

of Nairobi. It estimated the prevalence rate in Kenya at 68 to 88 per

cent.

The study revealed a serious lack of awareness among stakeholders on

the association between drug abuse, needle sharing and HIV/Aids.

The Rapid Situation Assessment listed Coast and Nairobi as the

provinces worst hit by intravenous drug use.

" Knowledge that HIV can be transmitted through contaminated needles

did not deter the users. Even those who are HIV positive still share

needles and engage in unprotected sex, " it says.

Most drug abusers are young and sexually active. Condom use among them

is very low. The age of the first sexual activity is 11 to 20 years,

although a small proportion started at 10 years.

A sero-prevalence survey in Mombasa among 120 drug abusers, including

injecting ones, indicated a high rate of Hepatitis C and HIV

infection.

" Two out of three users tested positive for Hepatitis C and one in two

for HIV/Aids. Out of seven injecting drug users (women), six tested

positive for HIV/Aids and five for Hepatitis C. "

Most of those affected were young — 55 per cent aged 17-30 years, and

90 per cent 17 to 40 years.

The report says injecting drug use is increasing in Kenya, and that

this has a high correlation with HIV spread.

It says appropriate policies on the issue should be developed.

Mr Saad of Reach Out Centre asks the Government to review its position

on a needle exchange programme. " If each injecting drug user had his

or her own syringes, chances of spreading HIV/Aids amongst them would

be almost zero. "

The controversial programme is said to have succeeded in other parts

of the world. The UN office says harm reduction schemes, including

provision of needles and syringes to drug users, have helped reduce

HIV cases in Eastern Europe, UK, USA, Australia and Pakistani.

Research by the UN and other international bodies shows minimal, if

any, increase in the number of injecting drug users as a result of

such programmes.

The same goes for the frequency of injections and of blood-borne viral

infections.

A report by the Australian National Council on Drugs and the

Australian National Council of Aids and Hepatitis Related Diseases

shows that needle and syringe exchange programmes prevented 25,000 HIV

infections by 2000. The programmes are projected to prevent 5,000

HIV-related deaths by 2010.

" It is clear from the research findings that where harm reduction

programmes are in place, cases of addiction, injection and HIV have

reduced, " Mr Murad said.

However, Dr Njenga says the Government intends to supply drug abusers

with hypodermic syringes to curb the spread of Aids.

" Drug abuse, especially among those who inject themselves, has reached

alarming proportions. We are coming up with a comprehensive strategy

on the issue. "

He said HIV cases among intravenous drug abusers at the Coast had

reached worrying proportions: " Recent studies show that 68 per cent of

intravenous drug abusers are HIV positive. "

He said the Government could soon adopt the controversial harm

reduction system.

" The issue was put on hold because it is culturally sensitive. But

creation of awareness on it is going on. We may adopt the strategy as

it is the most strategic way of dealing with the problem. "