The Ya-Fohi project aims to reduce risks among vulnerable and at-risk drug users for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in three cities in Ivory Coast. It enhances dedicated services, advocates for the enforcement of existing legal frameworks, and promotes the integration of the model into the national healthcare system.
Context
Since 2014, Médecins du Monde has implemented a harm reduction strategy for drug users in Ivory Coast, which has been taken over by “Espace Confiance” and its partners. Over time, the situation has improved: HIV prevalence among drug users in the project has decreased from 9.8% to 2%, legal changes have reduced drug use criminalization, access to methadone has become easier, and dedicated healthcare services are available in Abidjan, Bouaké, and San-Pédro—the three cities covered by the project. However, major challenges remain, including integrating harm reduction into the health system, ensuring effective access to substitution treatments, addressing the specific needs of female drug users, and defending the rights of this vulnerable population.
Description
The Ya-Fohi project aims to bolster the harm reduction strategy in Ivory Coast to advance legal frameworks, advocate for appropriate healthcare, and provide a holistic health response for drug users. It focuses on:
- Enhancing access to tailored services: Maintaining and expanding services at four community centers, constructing the Addiction Care and Support Center (CASA) in Abidjan, maintaining community outreach and mobile activities, expanding methadone distribution, improving services for female drug users, and integrating mental health care.
- Promoting rights: Advocating for the enforcement of drug use laws, therapeutic interventions, and legal support.
- Advocacy for scaling up: Promoting the expansion and sustainability of harm reduction models.
Impact
A total of 11,050 drug users, including 1,459 vulnerable women, benefit from targeted interventions during the Ya-Fohi project. Dedicated centers provide integrated care, including the management of mental health conditions.
