Kenya
In Kenya, there are around 110,000 HIV-positive children and 660,000 AIDS orphans. In the region of Butere, in the west of the country, around 15% of the population are infected with HIV. In the Nafasi project, SolidarMed holistically supported 142 HIV-positive children and their families.
92%
of the closely monitored HIV-positive children had undetectable viral loads in 2020.
127
children attended school.
Butere, Kakamega County
948
home visits by social
workers.
Nafasi – Help in Butere Project running since 2015 Region Butere, Kakamega County Target group 142 HIV-positive and poverty-stricken children and adolescents and their family members (780 beneficiaries in total). Objective Improving physical and mental health for the poorest HIV-infected children and adolescents and their caregivers. Access to (vocational) training for HIV-infected and poverty-stricken children and adolescents. Main activities ► Medical and psychological support and guidance of HIV-positive children and adolescents through home visits, monthly club meetings, adherence counselling ► Access to education through partial funding of tuition fees for schoolchildren and adolescents in vocational training and additional instruction during the long school holidays (this was severely restricted due to COVID-19 in 2020)
28
Spotlight
Youth camp
At the end of December, 54 HIV-positive adolescents met for a three-day, COVID-19 restriction-compliant camp on a school campus. In various workshops, they avidly learned and discussed together with experts about topics like sexual rights and health, gender-specific violence, alcohol and drugs, handling stigma and coming-out about their HIV status, challenges posed by taking their medicines daily, partnership and teenage pregnancies. Common meals, football matches, a film screening and their own talent show were all part of the varied programme. Over this three-day period, the campers formed new friendships, exchanged experiences, learned a lot and offered one another mutual encouragement. The participants were thrilled and for many, little things like a “real” shower, or their
Nafasi
own toothbrush were a highlight. Gatherings like these are vital for young people’s physical and mental health and provide them long-term support on their paths.
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SolidarMed
