Dr Andrew Scheibe is a medical doctor by training who works in key population programmes and policy in South Africa and the region. His work focuses on the intersections between infectious diseases, determinants of health, and rights, with a particular focus on substance use and harm reduction. He is a technical advisor for TB HIV Care, a researcher at the University of Pretoria’s Community Oriented Primary Care Research Unit and a consultant working for the South African Network of People Who Use Drugs and Population Services International.

Dr. Mercy Karanja is a Consultant Psychiatrist and Director of Mental Health at the Ministry of Health, Kenya. Shis also a Director at the Kenya National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), and the President of the Kenya Psychiatric Assocition. With over 15 years of progressive experience in mental health, she has applied her expertise in various capacities, including as a clinical practitioner, policymaker, technical advisor, and trainer in psychiatry.Her experience includes a decade-long in HIV programming, where she played a pivotal role in designing and implementing harm reduction interventions for people who inject drugs. Notably, Dr. Karanja was among the pioneers of Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) in Kenya and remains deeply passionate about this work. She has been instrumental in shaping national approaches to harm reduction, advocating for evidence-based programs, and fostering inclusive care for vulnerable populations.