Our youth came together during this Covid period and took to graffiti to create awareness on the dangers and existence of the coronavirus as well as share a clear message on self protection. We want to highlight their efforts and spread the word by simply asking you to take a photo by the Mural and post it up on social media.

COVID-19 Emergency Response Program

The COVID-19 pandemic has created new barriers and challenges to harm reduction our work in Kenya. In response, VOCAL-Kenya and Harm Reduction International (HRI) are working together to urgently extend hygiene, harm reduction and HIV prevention services to target the unique vulnerabilities of “hard-to-reach women” who use drugs and/or live with HIV in the slum areas of Kibera and Kawangware, as well as Mathare in Nairobi. Through the Angamiza Corona Mashinani—which means to Forestall COVID-19 at the Grassroots Level.

Our emergency response activities aim to Inform and facilitate hygiene behavior change in Kibera and Kawangware (‘the slums’):
VOCAL-Kenya has set up wash stations across the slums, at sites near areas of drug use. These stations allow for the protection, and the enhanced sense of agency and dignity, for hard-to-reach women and their families. This is designed to share health information through leaflets, conduct hygiene promotion campaigns, continue sustainment of station supplies and support local soap protection efforts by women who use drugs/women who live with HIV.

Facilitate access to HIV and harm reduction services in the context of COVID-19 restrictions:
VOCAL-Kenya has distributed 1000 quality reusable masks to hard-to-reach women and men who use drugs in slum areas. Because face masks are now mandatory in public places in Kenya, people cannot go to access their Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) without a face mask. We have also supported the delivery and distribution of needles, syringes, condoms and face masks, prioritizing hard-to-reach women in the slums, are of priority. Additionally, many of these supplies will be delivered via tuk tuk, while continued advocacy for a government supported mobile methadone van will be done.

Ensure the cadre of community health volunteers (CHV) are aware of COVID-19 implications and vulnerability of the populations they are working with in the slums, while also ensuring continued engagement of the CHVs:
This involves training and sensitizing two community health volunteers (CHVs) on the vulnerability of women, HIV information, harm reduction methods and COVID-19 protocols so they can best serve people who use drugs and people living with HIV. Provide resources to facilitate linkages with health facilities, and support for the adherence of (OST) and antiretroviral therapy (ART).