The forum was aimed at engaging members of the County Assembly Health Committee to ultimately amend the county level ‘maeneo’ by-law for a more tolerant legal environment for harm reduction work in Mombasa. The forum was also used to sensitize high ranking law enforcement officers on harm reduction and the role of law enforcement officers in HIV prevention.
During the meeting, KELIN provided an overview of the legal and policy environment currently in place and how this affects provision of harm reduction services. During the session participants noted the need for the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior to speak with one voice so as to safeguard the right to health for persons who use drugs.
The forum was further enriched by the observations of Hon Diana Mochache, Senior Principe Magistrate, Shanzu law courts, who shared how she uses her judicial discretion to implement pre incarceration diversion. She highlighted how she formulated a unique court order where she refers persons who use drugs to organizations providing harm reduction services and at the same time orders the Ministry of Health to admit the accused person into the methadone programme. Her actions have drastically reduced the number of drug users incarcerated for drug related offences while at the same time moving to decongest prisons in the county where a majority of detainees are persons who use drugs.
KELIN will strengthen its partnership with MEWA and the OSIEA so as to ensure that the rights of persons who use drugs are protected.
To contribute to the discussions on this forum, follow KELIN on our social media platforms: Twitter: @KELINkenya using these hash tags: #justice2health; Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya
For more information, contact:
Ted Wandera
Program Officer
Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV/AIDS (KELIN)
4th Floor, Somak Building, Mombasa Road
Tel +254202515790; Cell +254788220300
Email: twandera@kelinkenya.org
