Police academy training on harm reduction expands in Tanzania

Police recruits at Moshi Police Academy, Tanzania, were very impressed to learn they had a vital role to play in preventing HIV. In addition to learning about HIV risk and modes of transmission, they discovered that certain police activities can encourage or deter people from accessing harm reduction services or treatment programs. The Moshi Police Academy structured the training around the three pillars of change within the Tanzania Police Force: professionalism, modernisation and community policing.

The image above captures a police Inspector helping prepare course materials for the police recruits, including information about joining the Law Enforcement and HIV Network (LEAHN).

LEAHN Country Focal Point Inspector Abdallah Said Kirungu said the Tanzanian Police Force was very committed to training police recruits in harm reduction and encouraged them to become part of the LEAHN global community. Nazihab Salum (pictured above) distributed copies of the Statement of Support for Harm Reduction by Police to the recruits so they could join over 5000 police worldwide who have signed in support.

If you are a police officer (serving or retired), you too can sign the Statement of Support.

You don’t have to be a police officer to join the LEAH Network, so anyone who wants to keep up-to-date with and support LEAHN activities can sign up and receive our eNewsletter.