Support, Don’t Punish: Harm Reduction Awareness and Advocacy Is Taking Shape in Rwanda

Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS & Health Promotion (RNGOF on HIV/AIDS & H.P), in collaboration with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), the TUBITEHO Coalition members, Strive Foundation Rwanda, IMRO Rwanda, Health Development Initiative Rwanda (HDI), and Médecins du Monde (MdM), with support from Expertise France – L’Initiative and The Global Fund, successfully convened a national stakeholders’ workshop. The workshop developed and translated Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for People Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) in Rwanda under the TUBITEHO (Let’s Take Care of Them) Project.

Workshop Objective

The workshop brought together representatives from government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, the private sector, media professionals, and communities of People Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) to address critical gaps in harm reduction communication and service access at health facilities and community levels.

Grounded in National and Global Commitments

This initiative supports Rwanda’s commitment to achieving and sustaining the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets and ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, while integrating services for HIV, Hepatitis, STIs, Tuberculosis, Mental Health, NCDs, and SRHR.

Key Statistic: HIV prevalence among PWUDs is 13.46%, significantly higher than the 3% in the general population.

Key Discussions

Understanding the vulnerabilities and barriers faced by PWUDs
Reviewing existing IEC materials
Identifying gaps to ensure relevance to the Rwandan context

Key Results & Achievements

Participants successfully defined and translated key targeted messages, priority content areas, and communication channels. The new IEC materials are:

✔ Accurate and evidence-based

✔ Stigma-free language

✔ Culturally appropriate and accessible

✔ Respectful of human rights and gender-based approaches

✔ Integrated across HIV, Hepatitis, STIs, TB, Mental Health, NCDs & SRHR

“PWUDs should not be considered as criminals, but as sick people who need special care and treatment.”

— National Stakeholders’ Workshop on Harm Reduction

Expected Impact

Significantly improve awareness among PWUD communities and the general public
Reduce stigma and discrimination
Enhance access to quality harm reduction services at health facilities and community level
Inform policy and decision makers to create an enabling environment for PWUDs