Garnering Support for People Who Use Drugs in Nigeria
Lead organisation: Drug Harm Reduction Advocacy Network Nigeria
Supporting organisation: Health Action Support Initiative
Drug Harm Reduction Advocacy Network Nigeria (DHRAN) held advocacy activities for the 2019 Support Don’t Punish day between 26 June and 10 July. This was the second event held by DHRAN in Nigeria and the largest so far; involving 18 organisations in 15 states as compared to 15 organisations in 13 states organised in 2018.
The theme for the 2019 advocacy in Nigeria was: “We are People; Support Don’t Punish” to draw attention to the stigma, discrimination, criminalisation of people who use drugs and the lack of comprehensive harm reduction services for them.
All DHRAN organisations were involved in the 2019 event and saw a successful nationwide advocacy with more acceptance of people who use drugs as members of the society who need support and not punishment. The advocacy involved interactions with law enforcement agents, the media and state-based stakeholders. The event also featured community-led HIV testing services which helped reduce the stigma and discrimination of people who use drugs by members of the public.
Some key activities included:
Advocacy to state government stakeholders: This involved presenting targeted information in the form of calendars and pamphlets to: The State Commands of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), State commands of the Nigeria Police Force, the State Agencies for the Control of AIDS (SACA), National Human Rights Commission State offices and The State Ministries of Health. Five copies of the calendars for the five stakeholders amounting to 375 copies and 800 pamphlets were shared to the state-based stakeholders in 15 states.
Health care services (HIV testing and treatment referral): Community organisations that support people who use drugs provided HCT services and treatment referral to the public.
Awareness creation/road walk: Road walk in the 15 states to raise awareness on the need to “Support. Don’t Punish”, and to garner support for comprehensive harm reduction and focus on health and rights of people who use drugs. DHRAN pamphlets and condoms were shared to members of the public.
Media engagement: DHRAN organisations engaged the media in the states where the activities occurred. This involved media chats and radio programmes on issues of drugs and approaches of harm reduction.
Participation in the Policy Dialogue on the Criminal Justice Act: IDPC supported the policy dialogue on the Criminal Justice Act as it affects people who use drugs.
Contact: Aniedi Emah Akpan, [email protected]
