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PWUID Project

SAYWHAT, in partnership with the National AIDS Council (NAC), is implementing a project Towards ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030, targeting People Who Use and Inject Drugs, funded by the Global Fund. 

 

The People Who Use and Inject Drugs (PWUIDs) project is a national harm‑reduction initiative supporting individuals affected by injecting and non‑injecting drug use across Zimbabwe. Through a combination of fixed service points and mobile outreach, the project enhances the overall well-being and quality of life for PWUIDs by implementing Comprehensive Prevention Programs that focus on universal access to HIV & TB prevention, treatment, care, support services, and harm reduction.

  1. Epidemiology of PWUID in Zimbabwe

Drug use in Zimbabwe has increased sharply over the last decade, driven by economic hardship, unemployment, and the availability of substances such as crystal methamphetamine (mutoriro), cannabis, cough syrup (codeine) and pharmaceuticals. Studies and national reports increasingly highlight PWUID as a growing key population with unique vulnerabilities:

 

Key Epidemiological Insights

  • PWUIDs in Zimbabwe are a young, marginalised, and highly vulnerable key population.
  • Stimulants (especially crystal meth) and codeine‑based products dominate use and injection.
  • Rising injecting drug use has been seen in Harare, Bulawayo, and border towns, with young adults disproportionately affected. Injection mostly involves pharmaceutical drugs and crystal meth, with risky injection sites which includes wrist, thigh, groin and neck. Injection involves also, the unsafe discarding which involves dustbins, toilets and streets.
  • HIV prevalence is significantly higher among people who inject drugs compared to the general population-driven by needle sharing, limited sterile equipment access, and late healthcare seeking.
  • Hepatitis C burden is emerging, particularly among PWUID, though national screening is still limited. 89% of participants’ sample had never heard of HCV with very poor knowledge of transmission (Zimbabwe situational analysis of drug use in five provinces to inform HIV and TB programming for people who use drugs).
  • Structural drivers such as homelessness, stigma, unemployment, and criminalization intensify risks.
  • Urban hotspots such as Mbare, Caledonia, Mabvuku (Harare) and Makokoba and Mzilikazi (Bulawayo) show concentrated patterns of drug injection and unsafe practices.

 

  1. Project Objectives

Our programme aims to:

  • Reduce HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and other injection‑related infections.
  • Expand access to needle and syringe services and sterile commodities.
  • Increase uptake of HIV testing, ART, PrEP, and STI services.
  • Access to Naloxone for overdose prevention.
  • Strengthen referral linkages to mental health, rehabilitation, and social protection services.
  • Promote dignity, safety, and rights for PWUID through community‑led approaches.
  • Build capacity among Microplanners, community structures, and service providers.

The primary objective of this project is to enhance the overall well-being and quality of life for PWUIDs by implementing Comprehensive Prevention Programs that focus on universal access to HIV and TB Prevention, Treatment, Care, Support Services and harm reduction.

  1. Programme Approaches

Harm Reduction Services

  • Needle & syringe distribution.
  • Sharps disposal.
  • Safer‑use education.
  • Condom & lubricant distribution.

Clinical Services (Referrals)

  • HIV counselling & testing.
  • PrEP and ART initiation/refills.
  • STI screening & treatment
  • Hepatitis B/C testing (once available).
  • TB screening & referrals.

Psychosocial Support

  • Peer navigation
  • Support groups
  • Counselling
  • Legal and social protection referrals

Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST)

Clients are referred to private rehabilitation Centres like Mubatirapamwe to enroll in methadone or buprenorphine programmes.

  1. Service Delivery Model

The programme uses static service points and mobile outreaches to reach communities in both Harare and Bulawayo.

 

There is no mention of SAYWHAT at all in this whole document, say this article is copied and pasted on NAC’s website it will look like a project being implemented by NAC only

  1. Programme Impact
  • 600+ PWUIDs reached through community and hotspot outreach activities.
  • Over 5,000 condoms distributed, promoting safer sexual practices and reducing HIV/STI risk.
  • Expansion of peer networks in Harare and Bulawayo, improving linkage to care.
  • Strengthened partnerships with local clinics, community groups, and social service providers

 

Introductory paragraph does not indicate project cycle. This section on impact – the figures may appear too low. Consider rephrasing and adding the time frames. For instance:

 

The PWUIDs project is being implemented from 2024 – 2026 and by end of 2025…

Training of Trainers on Harm reduction