Partnering for Success with the Drosos Foundation

Since 2007, FHI/Egypt has been responsible for the Drosos Project, one of the first HIV/AIDS interventions in Egypt to provide harm reduction messages and solutions for active injecting drug users (IDUs) and comprehensive care services to any person infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The project is building the capacity of a local NGO, Waay, in a conservative society where drug use is illegal and widely condemned, and where sexual activity is not easily discussed.

FHI/Egypt's longstanding experience in implementing similar projects for most-at-risk populations (MARPs) and its good relations with all stakeholders makes it the ideal source of technical and programmatic assistance for reaching high-risk groups in Greater Cairo.

FHI's work with IDUs employs the successful FHI prevention and care model, which uses peer-driven outreach to attract active IDUs to a set of free and anonymous prevention and care services all under one roof. In-house services include voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), peer education, clinical and home-based care, and management of STIs, as well as external referrals to services provided by the National AIDS Program. These ensure a continuum of care for underserved IDUs.
 
To promote the benefits of harm reduction among Waay's clients actively engaged in high-risk behaviors, FHI developed culturally-sensitive harm reduction posters in a participatory process involving NGO staff, peer educators, and active IDUs. After various pre-testing workshops to determine the relevant language and images to use, four posters were designed to communicate harm reduction messages to active IDUs at the Waay Comprehensive Care Center (CCC).

Introduction to the Drosos Project