On July 31st, WFAD and its East African Network hosted the webinar “Connecting Parallels between Prevention and Treatment”. The East Africa Network resulted from the Kampala Declaration signed by various East African organisations in 2020. The network aims to work on Drug Demand Prevention, Reduction, Treatment and Recovery in all the East African member states. It does so through capacity-building activities, advocacy, and outreach. The webinar was within the framework of the capacity-building activities and was open to members beyond the East African region.

The webinar was joined by 4 speakers:

• Emmanuel Nshokano Kanyurhi
  Emmanuel highlighted the current situation faced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a particular focus on the East. The region is affected by war and armed conflict, which has cost the lives of over 8 million people and displaced millions of people. Those who are displaced face increased challenges and vulnerabilities, lacking food, medical care, etc. To escape the dire situation, many start using substances, which can develop into an addiction. For those wanting support to leave their addiction, barriers are faced due to the lack of rehabilitation centres in the country. Emmanuel his organisation, OPADEC, organises sessions in schools, cooperates with media to raise awareness, and provides harm reduction in the continuum of care, including provision of social needs, medical care, food programmes, social reproductive training, etc. They also collaborate with a rehabilitation centre in Rwanda and support those in need to receive the care needed while ensuring aftercare is provided afterwards. They also work with family reconciliation, economic integration, and social-economic integration.
• Lilian Gitau
  Lilian is a professional in treatment, especially for women, and in prevention and harm reduction in the continuum of care. She elaborated on the need for building a connection between prevention and treatment. As many organisations often work with particular funding projects, they are constrained in offering all required services within the continuum of care. Hence, we would need to understand where the linkage is and connect our efforts in the different silos.
• Cressida de Witte
  Cressida highlighted the continuum of care and elaborated on the various elements within the framework, including prevention, treatment, recovery, and aftercare (a holistic circle). Prevention, often underfunded, is in continuous need to advocate for and be implemented by organisations. Further research is required to contextualise the evidence-based approaches. Treatment remains important and requires sensitised approaches, the reduction of barriers and stigma, and aims to support the pathway of recovery. All elements are intertwined and require to be connected to strengthen the continuum of care.
• Matej Kosir
  Matej highlighted the work of the Vienna NGO Committee. The VNGOC provides a vital link between NGOs and Vienna-based agencies involved in setting drug policies (CND, INCB, and UNODC). They promote collaboration, enhance communication, and ensure a balanced representation. Within the VNGOC, the whole continuum of care is represented in a balanced way. He reiterated that collaboration remains important to develop plans together.