Zambia learns from Kenya’s experience in developing HIV programmes for key populations at higher risk

South to South learning—or the cooperation between low- and middle-income countries—can help countries understand how to respond to HIV, particularly in politically and culturally sensitive areas such as developing programmes for key populations at higher risk of HIV infection.

From 24- 28 September 2012, members of the National AIDS Council of Zambia, with support from the country’s United Nations Joint Team on AIDS, visited to Kenya to learn about their HIV programmes to reach key populations including sex workers, people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men and transgender people.

Despite both countries having restrictive legal environments which criminalise sex work, same sex sexual relations and drug use, Kenya has long recognized its complex HIV epidemic among key populations—which accounts for 33% of new HIV infections. The country put in place a technical working group within the ministry of health to develop programmes that meet the needs of most at risk populations.