INHSU Africa 2020 was the first event of its kind to bring together regionally-based advocates, policy champions, civil society leaders and the community of people who use drugs. The event highlighted best practices, contributed to enhancing drug user health, and focused on the elimination of HIV as well as hepatitis C.
The inaugural event included an Advocacy Day, a Policy Day conducted in partnership with UNITE, and a two-day traditional conference. In association with the event, Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) conducted education for clinical practitioners in Cape Town and Pretoria.
At this historic meeting, an African Declaration was made to eliminate hepatitis C and improve the health of people who use drugs. Signed by 21 African and globally-based organisations, the Africa Declaration calls on African political leaders and all global partners to:
- Scale-up harm reduction services
- Make health services accessible for people who use drugs
- Support community empowerment and community-based programmes
- Improve access to affordable diagnostics and medicines
- Eliminate stigma, discrimination and violence
- Reform drug policies
- Enhance funding for harm reduction and hepatitis C elimination efforts
Download the Africa declaration
Almost 200 delegates from 10 African countries – alongside international partners – attended INHSU Africa. We thank our partners ASHM and TB HIV Care who cohosted the event.
Other partners including Open Society Foundations and Frontline AIDS who enabled the participation of a wide range of delegates from across the African region.
Following the success of the regional meeting, we have continued to partner with local policy champions to support their advocacy activities. We have also held a series of virtual events including World Hepatitis Day and Overdose Awareness Day events.
