World AIDS Day in Kenya
Posted by
Rhoda Igweta
Nairobi, Kenya
December 1, 2010
UPDATE: 11:20 a.m. EST
The team that was working the Foundation booth at had the opportunity to speak to the Minister of State for Special Programmes, Esther Murugi, about the Foundation’s work in Kenya.. The Minister was present at the event and spoke about the importance of PMTCT programs, and of doing more work with children who have HIV. She also read the keynote address from the First Lady, Mama Lucy Kibaki, who was not able to attend.
The Minister was accompanied to the Foundation booth by Dr. Nicholas Muraguri, head of the National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Program (NASCOP), as well Dr. Peter Cherotich, the head of Prevention at NASCOP.
Minister Esther Murugi looks at the Foundation's materials at the Foundation's table
during a national World AIDS Day event.
Staff explain to Minister Murugi (center, brown jacket) about the Foundation's work in
Kenya. She is accompanied by the head of NASCOP Dr. Muraguri (left, gray suit).
All smiles from the Foundation's World AIDS Day - Kenya team at the end of a
successful event! Left to right: Rhoda Igweta, Jen Pollakusky, Judy Omare,
Judith Rose.
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UPDATE: 8:50 a.m. EST
Our aim today: To speak with members of the public and encourage them to know their HIV status as a first step towards the elimination of pediatric AIDS. Through the AIDS Response in Forces in Uniform (ARIFU) Project, the Foundation is supporting HIV testing by the Administration Police at the national World AIDS Day event. They’ve already tested many people. HIV testing is an important part of the World AIDS Day theme of “Universal access and human rights”--as universal access can only be achieved when people know their HIV status.
The ARIFU Project, a collaboration between EGPAF and our partner PATH, also provides a variety of information, education and communication materials targeted at the uniformed forces and these were given to the public as well. For example, today’s event provided an opportunity to share comic strips about HIV testing and information about the available HIV services.
Administration Police Counselor during counselling before testing individuals on
World AIDS Day in Nairobi, Kenya.
Foundation staff member Rhoda Igweta at the Administration Police stand during
Kenya's national World AIDS Day event.
The Administration Police band looking at comic strips providing educational
information about HIV/AIDS.
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ORIGINAL POST: 8:10 a.m. EST
It is a little over two hours since the World AIDS Day celebrations started at the Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi, Kenya, for the country’s national World AIDS Day event. The Foundation team arrived early to set up, and has been very busy ever since. It’s the first time that we’ve set up a booth for this event, and the response has been overwhelming – already, the Foundation team has spoken to hundreds of people wanting to know about our work. Here is a sneak peak of how the day is shaping up!
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A marching band kicked off the east-African nation's World AIDS Day events.
The scene outside the Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi.
The Foundation's materials on display.
People were anxious to pick up the Foundation's materials and learn more about
our work in Kenya and around the world.
Staff members Jen Pollakusky (pink shirt) and Rhoda Igweta (red shirt) talk to
interested people at Foundation's booth during Kenya's World AIDS Day event.
Rhoda Igweta is the Foundation's Senior Public Policy and Advocacy Officer, based in Nairobi, Kenya.