Upendo Village Update
April 2005
Jane (center) struggles to survive AIDS while caring for her 11 year old daughter, Margaret, and her 2 year old son, Patrick.
Upendo Village continues to bring hope and dignity to those living with HIV and AIDS in Kenya, Africa. Sister Florence Muia and her staff of five continue to provide home based care, nutritional supplementation, voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT), AIDS care giving and prevention education, and emergency shelter for many poor people in and around Naivasha.
Upendo Village continues to network with others to provide care and services. This past Christmas the Naivasha chapter of the Society for Women and AIDS in Kenya (SWAK) hosted 18 children orphaned by AIDS at the Naivasha YMCA camp. They were treated to a free lunch, counseling, games and entertainment. Most importantly, it was a time for the children to enjoy just being kids! Recently, Upendo Village was chosen to partner with Health Network International, a non-governmental organization and community health provider based in Nairobi, in providing home based care (HBC) for HIV/AIDS clients in Naivasha. This is a three-year partnership sponsored by the Finish government through Health Network International to provide antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and opportunistic infection treatment to HIV/AIDS clients. The project intends to treat 50 clients in the first year of implementation. It will also train 20 HBC volunteer teams for 6 weeks and will provide monthly stipends to 10 volunteers to do HBC on a more regular basis. This project commenced in February 2005.
The Upendo Village support group continues to meet twice a month, giving clients, family and friends an opportunity to share their stories and to offer support to one another. Three HBC volunteers also participate in the support group as a way of showing solidarity with the clients. The main purpose of this group was to remove the isolation that often accompanies this highly stigmatized illness. Twelve members of the support group also participate in the skills training program, thereby empowering themselves to become economically self sufficient and boosting their self esteem.
Mary Jane buys fruit from Anna Mungure, age 38. She is HIV + and was near death. Through Upendo Village’s nutritional supplementation program and TB treatment program, she is now able to support herself with a fruit and vegetable stand which she started with Upendo Village’s help
Through the efforts of Kathleen J. Harrison, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Medical Director, Cyotogenetics at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, IL Upendo Village is now training clients in beadwork. Members of the Masaai people, who specialize in bead work, are teaching this skill. Through participation in the Harambee Project, the handmade goods are sold here in the US and the money sent back to the clients to help support themselves and their families. The first products included earrings, AIDS beaded ribbons, crosses, bracelets and key holders. The first income money was sent to Kenya in March. Thank you Kathleen for your fine work!!
As reported in our last Upendo Village Update, our clients now have access to antiretroviral (ARV) medications. Through Sister Florence’s networking efforts with the nearby Naivasha Sub District Hospital, patients who qualify can now receive ARV’s under the Presidential Emergency Program For AIDS Response (PEPFAR). Twelve of our clients have been placed on these medications. Unfortunately, 2 have already died from AIDS. The remaining ten are doing well. Through our joint efforts with Health Network International, we expect the number of clients on ARV medicines to rise quickly.
Three acres of land for Upendo Village’s permanent site was donated by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nukuru. The land title has now been successfully obtained by Upendo Village. We are currently fund-raising in order to fence the property, drill a well and build a deflourination system (to make the water safe for drinking). We hope to soon begin construction of the building, for which we have already received a very generous donation from the Ochylski Family Foundation.
In the past 3 months, six clients have died from AIDS: two children and four adults. These losses have been very difficult for the staff and volunteers at Upendo Village, as well as for the families, loved ones and communities. As Sister Florence put it: “Our joy is only when we realize that at least we touched their lives and they blessed our lives as well. Our dear friends rest in peace!”
Thank you for your support for Upendo Village and the people of Kenya. Your concern and solidarity bring hope and life to many. Together we continue to work toward the day when the people of all the countries of the world will be able to live healthy and happy lives.—
Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, MD
Upendo Village, NFP.
HIV/AIDS Women Project-Kenya
Sr. Florence Muia, ASN – President
Sr. Beatrice M. Hernandez, OSF,MD-Executive Director
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 449
Wheaton, IL 60189
E-mail: contact@upendovillage.org
