The HIV epidemic in the Middle East and North Africa has continued to grow, aggravated by an increase in injecting drug users with high-risk practices such as sharing contaminated syringes. An approach known as harm reduction has been proven to be effective in reducing negative health consequences among this vulnerable group. Yet the provision of harm reduction services to this population has been hindered because

drug use and HIV are considered taboo in many parts of the region. Nongovernmental organizations in civil society can fill this gap, but their potential has been underdeveloped. These were the challenges addressed by the formation of the Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association (MENAHRA).