HIV/AIDS
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| The
HIV/AIDs pandemic is devastating the people
of Kenya. Even in the remote, rural areas such as Kitui and Mwingi
communities
are losing their most energetic and capable young people and community projects
are being deprived of committee members and community leaders by this pandemic. |
Click to enlarge
Aids
statistics for Mutomo region
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The
Catholic Diocese of Kitui’s involvement:
The
HBC (home based care)
programme for HIV/AIDS was started back in 1989 through the initiative of Dr.
Frank Engelhard working in Mutomo hospital. He had observed patients presenting
with signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS as the Hospital. In 1991 the programme was
initiated at 4 hospitals in the two districts. Immediately thereafter,
collaboration with the Ministry of Health in the fight against HIV/AIDS began.
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The
programme has 2 main goals, which are: to increase access to quality home
based care services for Persons Living With Aids (PWAs) and to reduce the risk
of infection with STIs and HIV/AIDS. The activities include provision of care
and support for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, provision of HIV/AIDS
pre and post test counselling services, reduction of STI prevalence particularly
among the youth through youth programmes, health education and capacity building
for staff, community, PWAs, orphans, orphan guardians and care givers, and
funding of income generating activities. |
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Click to enlarge
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A
meeting of carers for PLWAs at Mutomo Hospital Home Based
Care Clinic tell their story for Friends of Kitui |
| Examples here include the support
to Wii Bakery in Kitui Centre with 16 members and Kwodep Vegetable Oil
Refinery with 120 members.
The PWAs have been
empowered to live positively with HIV/AIDS. Stigma and discrimination has
reduced in the community and the hospital workload has significantly decreased. While initially about 50 patients would be admitted in Mutomo Hospital per week, |
this figure has now come to about 30 patients per week. The Wii Bakery is now
independent, while the Kwodep group is close to total independence. There has
been increased life expectancy for PWAs. One lady has lived positively with
HIV/AIDS since 1987. Home-based care services have reduced hospital bed
occupancy and enabled the PWAs to live in dignity surrounded by their loved
ones. |
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Click to enlarge
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Literature
on AIDS prevention and Treatment of HIV infection available
at Mutomo Home Based Care Centre
Click to enlarge
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| Friends
of Kitui April 2006 visit to Mutomo Home-based Care Service |
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One of
the centres for this programme is based at Mutomo Hospital. From this centre
nine outlying clinics are serviced. Mutomo is at the southern extreme of
the Diocese, an area where rains have failed for the past five seasons. Like so
many other areas, the hospital suffers from water shortages. A recent attempt to
find water by drilling a 100 metre deep borehole had to be abandoned when no
water was found.
Outlying
clinics or support groups are at Ikanga (29kms), Kyatune (20kms), Mutha |
(38kms),
Mathima (20kms), Athi (54kms), Kanziko (37kms) and Ikuth and Kasaala (50kms).
One of the major features of the aids epidemic is the number of orphans
requiring care. The Mutomo HBC service deals with almost 1500 orphans, and 1300
orphan guardians. In addition support is provided to 150 care-givers, who in
turn are looking after people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAs). A total of 475 PLWAs
are currently registered with the Mutomo centre alone.
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| PLWAs
require anti-retroviral drug treatment to control the
symptoms of HIV/AIDS infection. ARVT is not free but the
cost has been reduced to a manageable level of
approximately €1.25 per month. While this cost is
manageable for most, it would not be feasible for them to
travel to Mutomo Hospital for treatment- hence the need for
a mobile service.
At a meeting with a group of Carers in Mutomo on
March 29th 2006, they had two requests for
support. The first was for assistance with school fees and
school uniforms. The
second was for water |
storage tanks
at the outlying clinics
for capture and storage of rainwater. The importance of
school fees and school uniforms is twofold. Firstly, if a
child can get access to school, he/she is probably
guaranteed adequate
feeding and nutrition for five days of the week- and the
remaining family foodstocks can be divided among the other
family members.
Secondly, school uniforms are often a prerequisite for
entry to school- and once attending school, the uniform
minimises “difference” for children who might
otherwise suffer discrimination or stigma due to the
HIV/AIDS factor.
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| On the
same day we visited a group of 32
PLWAs in Ikutha parish centre. These people meet together monthly to share
experiences and to access ARV therapy, and to receive treatment for any
opportunistic infections the might be suffering from.
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The group ranged in age
from the very young to the very mature. At these monthly sessions the group cook
and eat together, in an expression of solidarity. There is a practical issue
here also, for ARV therapy requires a balanced and nutritious diet for full
efficacy.
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