In Kenya 15 to 24 year old’s account for 41% of new HIV infections, due to a lack of sexual health information and deep-seated cultural beliefs. In Vihiga County, Western Kenya, Ace Africa was witnessing soaring HIV infection rates which were four times the national average. Our teams in Kenya used the power of education to change these young peoples lives and give them hope for an HIV free future.
Educate, test and support
Ace Africa worked with the Mercury Phoenix Trust (MPT) and the local government to provide information and support to those most at risk of infection – students, young people and commercial sex workers. Ignorance and misunderstanding was tackled in different ways:
- health Clubs at 12 secondary schools: students were taught about sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). Art was used to tackle difficult topics and the clubs put on drama performances at their schools and other local schools
- drama performances at secondary schools teaching 6,500 students about signs and symptoms of HIV and how to reduce the risk of infection. Confidential testing and counselling were also available alongside performances
- HIV educational materials distributed to students and 3,100 at-risk individuals working across 12 bars and discos
- night-time outreach drama and voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) in commercial sex work locations – bars, clubs and truck stops
A massive impact on attitudes and behaviour
- student awareness of HIV transmission and how to prevent it increased from 38% to 80%. Many felt more confident discussing HIV, thus helping to reduce stigma
- 65% of at-risk people involved in night-time HIV testing understood why frequent testing prevents HIV infection. It is a popular myth is that one test is enough
- 408 at-risk young people and adults tested at night-time outreach events
- 12 high-risk adults who stopped their anti-retroviral (ARV) medication restarted. (A common myth among sex workers is that ARV effects your beauty, and men will not find you attractive)
A life transformed – Keen’s story
Keen is a 17-year-old student at Ekwanda Secondary School. Her poor health worried her parents, teachers and friends. She ignored their advice to visit a hospital for tests.
There are many myths about poor health caused by the HIV virus. Keen believed one of them – that she had been bewitched.
After seeing an Ace Africa drama performance at her school about the symptoms of HIV, Keen discussed her health with an Ace Africa staff member. With Keen’s permission, Ace Africa staff put her in touch with a community health worker who supported Keen. Together they agreed she would go for an HIV test.
It came back as positive. Keen was devastated and contemplated suicide, feeling she had disappointed her family.
Counselling by qualified Ace Africa staff and the community health worker helped Keen to understand her diagnosis, and over time to accept her HIV status. She learnt how anti-retroviral treatment would improve her health and quality of life.
Eventually, she felt able to share her diagnosis with her family, friends and teachers in school. Today she continues her secondary education and is a member of her school health club – a safe place for students to talk about issues like HIV and AIDs. And the same programme that helped Keen helped her friends and family to understand Keen’s challenges and how to give her the support she needs.
