Our vision is a world where people who use drugs—no matter where they live—have equitable access to evidence-based services, treatment, and support to improve health and live well. But in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), that vision is still far from reality.
Our new INHSU LMIC Scholarship Fund aims to support as many people from LMICs as possible to attend our annual conference. Because real change won’t happen without their voices in the room.
The challenge
LMICs carry the highest burden of hepatitis C, yet most lack access to curative treatment. Harm reduction is also critically underfunded.
We can’t close this gap without the voices and leadership of people from LMICs. But persistent barriers — including restrictive visa policies and limited financial support — continue to exclude them from global conversations where decisions are made and best practice is shared.
Our response
At INHSU, we believe local knowledge, lived experience, and regional leadership are essential.
That means listening to LMIC voices and ensuring they have access to the same knowledge, networks, and opportunities being shared globally. The INHSU LMIC Scholarship Fund helps make that possible.
Impact so far
Since 2022, we’ve received 695 scholarship applications and supported over 150 people to attend the INHSU conference—including 52 from low- and middle-income countries, across countries as diverse as South Africa, Ecuador, Rwanda, and Myanmar.
Funded through INHSU reserves and generous corporate partners, these scholarships are making a difference—but demand continues to exceed resources, with many strong LMIC applicants unable to attend.
The LMIC Scholarship Fund helps us reach more people, with 100% of funds going directly to LMIC attendees across three scholarship streams: 1. Community (lived experience), 2. Program, Policy & Practitioner and 3. Trainee/student.
17
Generous donors have donated their speaker fees or made direct donations to support LMIC voices at INHSU 2025.
15+
Local people who use drugs have been funded to attend the conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
From 2023 to 2025, we piloted the scholarship program through our Hepatitis C Intervention Symposia, where speakers could donate their fees. The response was incredible. We’re grateful to every donor who helped make this possible.
Mercy’s story
Mercy Nyakowa is the Viral Hepatitis Lead for People Who Use and Inject Drugs at Kenya’s National AIDS and STI Control Program (NASCOP), within the Ministry of Health. In 2021, Mercy received a virtual scholarship to attend the INHSU conference, where she presented her work on hepatitis C and harm reduction in Kenya. That opportunity sparked something bigger, and she later applied to join the INHSU Board — and was successful.
Today, she helps shape the organisation’s strategic direction, bringing her valuable insight and expertise.
“The INHSU scholarship was a turning point for me. It gave me a platform to share our work and connect with global colleagues, where I have gained insights that have been key in fostering innovation and strengthening my work in Kenya.”
How you can help
The Scholarship fund will be used to fund people across three areas: 1. Community (lived experience), 2. Program, Policy & Practitioner and 3. Trainee/student.
Donating to the scholarship fund couldn’t be easier.
- Donate a one-off gift using the button below
- Give monthly using the button below
- Donate your speaker fees (speak to your INHSU contact)
Every dollar supports a someone to attend INHSU—helping amplify their voice, strengthen global networks, and change systems from the inside out.
Thank you to our donors
We would like to extend our heartfelt thank you to our donors so far. Your generosity is not only helping to break down financial barriers—but ensuring that people from low- and middle-income countries can take part in global conversations, share their expertise, and bring vital learnings back to their communities.
Your support is creating real, lasting impact. Thank you.