Africanpud

10/05/2026

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

08/03/2026

On this International Women’s Day, Africanpud celebrates and honours Judy Chang.

Judy is the former Executive Director of INPUD. For more than fifteen years, she has worked in community health and development, focusing on harm reduction and drug policy, from the grassroots to global advocacy. She has written widely on gender, public health, and the marginalisation of people who use drugs.
Judy helped build and strengthen regional networks, and one achievement we still feel every day is her role in advancing the Robert Carr Fund, which remains the main and core donor for AfricaNPUD and many other regional networks.

Today, as Program Manager at Open Society Foundations with the Advancing Global Drug Policy Reform Opportunity, Judy continues to champion the rights, health, and leadership of people who use drugs. Her recent CAROL AND TRAVIS JENKINS AWARD at the 28th Harm Reduction International Conference, and her work co-creating the Jude Byrne Emerging Female Leader Award with INHSU, show her lasting commitment to lifting up women who use drugs and women in harm reduction everywhere.

Africanpud thanks Judy Chang, and through her, we honour all women who use drugs and all women leading change across the world.

25/12/2025

Happy Holidays

20/11/2025

Celebrating a Decade of Advocacy: AfricaNPUD Honors Ms. Kouadio Dié N'dri Sandrine

Join us in celebrating a remarkable milestone as the Africa Network of People Who Use Drugs [AfricaNPUD] honors ten years of impactful existence. In this spirit, we proudly recognize Ms. Kouadio Dié N'dri Sandrine as a vital Board member representing Francophone and female voices. As the founder and President of the Association Paroles Autour de la Santé [PAS] in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, her dedication is truly inspiring.

Ms. Kouadio's journey not only exemplifies resilience but also embodies the noble spirit of the Dorabjee Award International, of which she is a distinguished recipient. Her organization passionately supports people who use drugs, fueling recognition and empowering them to reclaim their space.

Reflecting on her profound personal journey, Ms. Kouadio shares: "For 15 years, I confronted addiction, imprisonment, and the harsh reality of stigma and violence. These experiences have equipped me with a unique insight into the struggles faced by people who use drugs, especially in Africa. My challenges have driven me to transform my experiences into a beacon of hope for others."

Driven by her resolve to champion the rights of drug users, her association strives to foster an environment of respect and dignity, providing essential resources and services for harm reduction.

Let's come together to celebrate Ms. Kouadio's incredible contributions and the enduring impact of AfricaNPUD!

EuroNPUD Public LANPUD-Red Latinoamericana y del Caribe de Personas que Usan Dr**as MENANPUD ENPUD Zanpud Eurasian Harm Reduction Association - EHRA Eurasian Harm Reduction Association - EHRA

19/11/2025

A Decade of Dawn: Africanpud Journey from 2015 to 2025

As we gather to celebrate a remarkable milestone of 10 years since the inception of the Africa Network of People Who Use Drugs [AfricaNPUD], we look back with immense pride at a decade of relentless advocacy, empowerment, and profound change across the continent. This journey, beginning in 2015, has been powered by the vision and courage of individuals who dared to dream of a more just and equitable world for people who use drugs.

At the very heart of AfricaNPUD genesis was the inspiring leadership of Mr. John Kimani. A recognized leader in the field, John brought with him a wealth of experience as the Executive Director of the Kenya Network of People Who Use Drugs [KeNPUD], where he has spearheaded advocacy for harm reduction, HIV prevention, and human rights since 2012. It was John's unwavering commitment that saw him not only co-found AfricaNPUD in 2015 but also serve as its foundational first chairperson from 2015 to 2018.

Under John's pioneering chairmanship, AfricaNPUD rapidly took shape, laying the groundwork for a movement that would transform lives. His leadership was instrumental in the successful mobilization and representation of a powerful network of over 15 grassroots member organizations, spanning more than ten counties across Kenya, all led by people who use drugs. Crucially, these empowered groups also embraced and uplifted networks of women who use and inject drugs, ensuring a holistic and inclusive approach from the very beginning.

Through this foundational leadership, AfricaNPUD established itself as a vital voice. The network began its crucial work of contributing to key national and international policy discussions, advocating for progressive policies that truly shape the future of health and human rights for our community.

Today, ten years on, AfricaNPUD stands as a beacon of hope and resilience. We continue to build on the robust foundation laid by John Kimani and subsequent leaders, fostering a growing network that tirelessly champions harm reduction, HIV prevention, and the fundamental human rights of people who use drugs throughout Africa. Our journey from 2015 to today is a testament to the power of collective action and the unwavering belief that every voice deserves to be heard, every life deserves dignity, and every person deserves the right to health and respect.

Happy 10th Anniversary, AfricaNPUD! Here's to many more years of impact and empowerment.

Eurasian Harm Reduction Association - EHRA EuroNPUD Public Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs Tanpud Tz Kenya Network Of People who Use Drugs Australian Injecting & Illicit Drug Users League - AIVL

14/11/2025

Edem Ekpenyong is a passionate community advocate and key influencer who have been providing, supporting and advocating for healthcare interventions for people who use drugs in Nigeria, Africa and other part of the world since 2015. His cardinal goals are availability of harm reduction interventions, promotion of mental health, human rights and dignity of people who use drugs through strategic advocacy and engagement of relevant stakeholders across the globe.

Mr Edem Ekpeyong holds a B.Sc. in Human Kinetic and Health Education, he is the Executive Director of Health Action Support Initiative [HASI], he also served as a Representative of people who use drugs at Nigeria Key Populations Secretariat since the year 2020 to 2023 and participate as a member of Nigeria UNODC Technical Working Group [TWG] on Alternative to Incarceration [ATI].

Mr Edem is also National Coordinator form Nigeria Network of People Who Use Drugs [NNPUD] and a Board Treasurer at Africanpud representing West and Central Africa [WCA]. He is also a member of Global Community Advisory Board [CAB] at Unitaid Hepatitis C Portfolio.

Key Achievements:
1) Dedicated support to ensure the success, visibility and sustainability of Africanpud
2) Support strategic engagement of relevant stakeholders for the promotion and Implementation of harm reduction interventions in Nigeria and other African countries.
3) Support strategic advocacy with key stakeholders to promote human and health rights and dignity of people who use drugs in Nigeria and other African countries.

Distinguished delegates and affiliates let's join hands and recognize our champion for Nigeria and West Africa.

Stay Tuned...

14/11/2025

Africanpud @10

"My journey into harm reduction is deeply personal. As a young man, I experienced firsthand the challenges of drug use and the heavy stigma faced by people who use drugs in Sierra Leone. For years, I lived in a cycle of social rejection, discrimination, and limited access to health services. What changed my life was discovering the power of community, people who accepted me without judgment and helped me find purpose beyond my struggles. This inspired me to dedicate my life to creating safe spaces, building harm reduction programs, and advocating for human rights. My personal history continues to drive my commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind because of their drug use."

That's a quote from Habib Taigore Kamara from Sierra Leone Network of People Who Use Drugs. As Africanpud celebrates her ten years of existence we take this opportunity to recognize our members and affiliates in all diversity. Today we are taking cognizant of the power of community led service delivery.

Habib Taigore Kamara is a passionate harm reduction advocate and human rights defender. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Youth Development and Child Link [SLYDCL], a national network that champions the rights, health, and wellbeing of people who use drugs.

With over a decade of experience in community-led programming, Habib has led national advocacy efforts for the inclusion of people who use drugs in health and social development policies. Under his leadership, SLYDCL has established the first community-led harm reduction services in Sierra Leone, including Drop-in-Centres [DICEs], outreach programs, and peer-led interventions providing HIV, hepatitis, and overdose prevention services.

Habib’s dedication to empowering marginalized communities has positioned him as a respected voice in harm reduction both nationally and across West Africa. He continues to work closely with government agencies, law enforcement, and civil society partners to promote drug policy reform grounded in public health and human rights principles.

Key Achievements in Sierra Leone (SLYDCL Network):

Pioneered Harm Reduction Services:

Established Sierra Leone’s first harm reduction Drop-in-Centres providing HIV prevention, counselling, and support for PWUDs in Freetown, Bo, and Makeni.

Policy Advocacy and Inclusion:
Successfully advocated for the inclusion of harm reduction in national HIV and drug control frameworks.

Strengthened collaboration with the Sierra Leone Police, Ministry of Health, and NAC to improve protection and service access for PWUDs.

Community Empowerment and Leadership:
Trained over 80 peer educators and community champions to lead outreach, overdose prevention, and behavioral change interventions.

Research and Data Generation:
Conducted the first community-led mapping of drug use hotspots, generating data used to inform national program design.

Regional and International Engagement:
Represented Sierra Leone at international harm reduction forums and established partnerships with AfricaNPUD, UNODC, UNAIDS, and national stakeholders to strengthen the national response.

Public Awareness and Stigma Reduction:
Led nationwide campaigns to reduce stigma and discrimination against people who use drugs, amplifying their voices through media and community dialogues.

From Africanpud we join Sierra Leone Community to celebrate these listed milestones. Indeed people who use drugs have demonstrated to be trusted partners in harm reduction and drug policy conversation.

Stay Tuned...

13/11/2025

Africanpud @10.
Stay Tuned...

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01/11/2025

The International Drug Users Day marked an important milestone in the drug user’s rights movement, where the International Network of People who Use Drugs INPUD, which was founded in 2006 in Vancouver, Canada, was formally launched in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 1 November 2008.

Every year, on 1 November, people who use drugs all over the world celebrate our history and affirm our rights. The International Drug Users Day provides a platform where drug user activists and our community can confidently and proudly advocate for the health, human rights, and dignity of people who use drugs globally, regionally, and at the country level. The International Drug Users Day is a celebration of the accomplishments of our diverse, vibrant communities, while also acknowledging that our work is more critical than ever.

The Africa Network of People Who Use Drugs [AfricaNPUD] joins the global, regional, and national community-led partners to acknowledge our milestones. It is from these efforts that the AfricaNPUD emanates to mark ten years of its existence. This is not just a celebration but an authentic gesture that people who use drugs are leaders and partners that can transform challenges to opportunities; pain to power; incarceration to inclusion; punishment to partnership; silence to resilience.

Together we're saying, "We're Here, Proud, Unshaken, Unbroken and Loud"

Happy International Drug User Day [IDUD] 2025

INPUDDrug Harm Reduction Advocacy Network Nigeria - DHRANSouth African Network of People Who Use Drugs - SanpudKenya Network Of People who Use DrugsTalkingDrugs.orgParoles Autour de la Santé Côte d'IvoireEmpower CameroonTanpud TzMoz PudLace Boot Initiative For Women Who Use Drugs W R A D A - Women in Response to HIV/Aids and Drug Addiction

23/10/2025

"Ending AIDS means ending punishment and criminalization against people who use drugs." The Powerful Alexei Lahov from EuroNPUD Public at the UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy Multi-stakeholders Forum.

23/10/2025

"UNAIDS was formed because of the existence of community. However, the community are least involved even in the availability of resources." The amazing Aditia Taslim, the Global Advocacy Officer from INPUD at the UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy 2026-20231 Multistakeholder Consultation.