UNODC and COVID-19 in Eastern Africa

 

 

Welcome to our COVID-19 Conversations video series.

In this brief series, the Regional Office in Eastern Africa focuses on advancing the debate on COVID-19 challenges and solutions within UNODC's mandate in the region. Each episode will feature interviews with subject matter experts from UNODC and our government, private sector and civil society partners.

As envisioned by our UNODC Regional Representative, Dr. Amado Philipe de Andrés, our objectives for the series are to:

  1. Transfer knowledge on emerging best practices to combat COVID-19
  2. Showcase to the UN Resident Coordinators in every country in the region UNODC's menu of services, and how our teams are responding to our partners' changing needs during the pandemic
  3. Highlight what UNODC can do with the private sector and civil society through greater engagement to improve our collective efficiency and on-ground impact.

The conversations are moderated by our Regional Youth Focal Point, Ms. Wambui Kahara.

 

Episode 1: The Methadone Challenge

This conversation covers the continuity of health services in the region, focused on measures that are responding to people who use and inject drugs, using Kenya and Mauritius as examples.

The discussion explores the coordination efforts of different arms of government, including for maintaining the methadone supply chain, and unpacks the mitigation measures currently in place in Kenya to protect users and clinic personnel during the pandemic and how UNODC is assisting.

This episode includes an introduction from Dr. de Andrés. The other subject matter experts featured are:

  • Mr. Fayzal Sulliman, Head, Health and Social Development Pillar, UNODC Eastern Africa
  • Ms. Catherine Ngugi, Head, Division of National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP), Ministry of Health, Kenya
  • Mr. Job Kandie, Head, Licit Control, Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Kenya

 

Useful links

 

Last updated 3 June 2020