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UNAIDS support to women who use drugs and their families in Tanzania to prevent COVID-19

30 June 2020

In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the struggle for those who are already marginalized and vulnerable. In densely populated areas and informal settlements, where many of the cities’ people who use drugs reside, social distancing is difficult and running water and sanitation infrastructure is sparse.

Many people who use drugs, especially women, make a living doing work in the informal sector, for example housework, sex work or informal trading. They are seeing their income reduce and life for them and their families becoming difficult.

Through the Tanzania Network for People who Use Drugs (TaNPUD), an umbrella for people who use and inject drugs with 11 partner organizations, UNAIDS is supporting people who inject drugs and recovering drug users and their families in 19 campsites, called “maskanies”, and one shelter in Dar es Salaam. TaNPUD, provides information and communication messages on COVID-19 and stigma and discrimination, basic hygiene supplies (buckets, soap and sanitizer) and basic food rations to last approximately one month for each family. The project is financially supported by UNAIDS.

“Life has changed dramatically for many,” says Happy Assan, Executive Director of TaNPUD and coordinator and co-founder of SALVALGE, a network for women who use drugs in Dar es Salaam. “Women report that they can't afford to provide for their families. Part time jobs that some used to do are not accessible any more as many don't want anyone to visit their homes for washing clothes or cleaning because of fear of COVID-19,” she added.

“The support from UNAIDS will be able to help about 25 families of women who use drugs with food, hygiene materials and soap, and also help to reach out to them to better understand what they are going through,” says Ms Assan.