Members of SANPUD (the South African Network of People who Use Drugs) are playing a crucial role in ensuring that the voices of people who use drugs are not only heard but actively shape the conversations that matter most. By organising peer-led forums, participating in policy consultations, and collaborating with human rights organizations, SANPUD members make sure that the lived experiences and insights of their community are brought to the forefront in discussions about drug policy, health services, and social justice. 

As a lecturer at the Division of Clinical Associates at the University of Witwatersrand, I am reminded daily that the heart of nursing is advocacy—advocacy for science, for public health, and, most crucially, for the lived experiences and dignity of those we serve. This responsibility is nowhere more urgent than in maternity care for women on the margins.  

​South Africa stands at a dangerous crossroads. The abrupt disruption to HIV and harm reduction funding is not just a financial issue—it is a matter of life and death for millions. Since the United States’ (USAID) funding cut under President Trump, South Africa faces an R8 billion shortfall in funding for HIV and AIDS, threatening over 150 NGOs, more than 15,000 health workers, and the very foundation of the country’s fight against HIV, TB, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If unaddressed, this setback will not only stall but could reverse our progress, costing lives, especially among our most vulnerable: people who use drugs (PWUD), sex workers, men who have sex with men, and people in prison.