Reaching key populations and improving their access to HIV services in Kenya

In Kenya, around one third of all new HIV infections occur among key populations: sex workers (SW), people who use drugs (PWUD), and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, including men who have sex with men (MSM). To stop the AIDS epidemic and reduce the HIV prevalence in Kenya, which currently stands at 5.6%, it is crucial to upscale effective HIV/STI prevention, treatment, care and support targeting key populations. Since 2011, the Bridging the Gaps programme promotes health and rights for key populations in 16 countries. In Kenya, operational research was conducted in 2015 to gain insight into how the programme reaches key populations and how to increase their access to services. The operational research conducted between October 2014 and August 2015 targeted six local Bridging the Gaps programme partners in Kenya:

• Reachout Centre Trust, Muslim Education Welfare Association (MEWA), and The Omari Project for PWUD;

• Persons Marginalized and Aggrieved (PEMA Kenya) and Ishtar for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people;

• North Star Alliance for sex workers (SW).

These Bridging the Gaps country partners were involved in a variety of ways, from the formulation of operational research to the validation of findings.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.