 | | Aim | The aim of this programme is to enable those who are HIV positive, and those affected by HIV/AIDS, to support themselves and their families by being able to live productive, healthy and positive lives for a longer time.
The Kitale AIDS programme is a comprehensive approach, developed with the community over the last ten years, dealing with HIV/AIDS in the district of Trans Nzoia.
As well as the livelihood and income generation component supported by Vita, the programme includes education and training about AIDS within the community, counselling and testing for HIV, medical follow-up and care of HIV positive people, home based care, and support for AIDS orphans.
All of these activities and services include methods and approaches that build local capacity of families and service providers.
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The specific objectives are:
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 | to enable people to continue or become self reliant
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| to improve the general health of HIV positive people and their dependants
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| to improve self-esteem and dignity and reduce prostitution
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| to reduce the stigma associated with AIDS
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| to reduce the number of orphans and street children as parents live longer and older children or grandparents are able to care for younger children
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| Justification: |
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AIDS is a disease that kills but it is well known that with proper care and proper nutrition, HIV positive people can live healthy and productive lives for many years. The Kenyan National AIDS Control Council estimated, in March 2003, that over 1.5 million people were living with HIV/AIDS, and that there were 1.3 million orphans. In Kitale, the prevalence rate is estimated at around 16%.
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| Problems: |
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People with AIDS die of hunger and poor nutrition as much as from lack of medicine for opportunistic infections. They are also living nightmares about what will happen to their children when they are gone. Poverty is increasing in the mushrooming and overcrowded shanty towns on the outskirts of Kitale town, because the income from petty trade or casual work is too little to feed families or to keep children in school.
This is where the increasing number of landless people seek refuge and shelter, but in these shanty towns basic necessities for housing, water supply, and sanitation are grossly inadequate. There is a breakdown of traditional family relations and there is an increase in violence, robbery, excessive drinking, and early pregnancies.
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| Livelihood Support Activities: |
| HIV positive people and their families benefited from the income generation and livelihood support activities. The support varied according to the health and age of the people, and ranged from renting plots for cultivation, ploughing, seeds and fertilizers, and small grants of between Euro 30 and 60 for small business activities. |
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| Project Update: |
| As a result of the programme, 259 people gained self-sufficiency and their own general health and that of their children improved, they regained hope and a positive attitude and they are an inspiration and encouragement to other people. This project was implemented in partnership with the Kitale Aids Programme, the Medical Missionaries of Mary and Vita with financial support from the Bank of Ireland Employees Fund for Third World Aid. |
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| For further information contact |
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Vita
73a Blessington Street
Dublin 7
Tel: 01 882 0108
Email: info@vita.ie |
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