At least 18,000 households are set to benefit from a Sh5.6 million kitty to support people living with HIV and vulnerable groups affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The kitty was launched on Friday by the Kenya government in partnership with the German government and UNAIDS.
The project seeks to reach at least 18,000 households with food baskets, sanitary pads, hand sanitisers and reusable face masks in the seven counties of Mombasa, Busia, Nairobi, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Siaya and Migori.
"Evidence indicates that the convergence of Covid-19 and HIV is deepening inequalities and sharpening the vulnerabilities faced by women and girls particularly those living with HIV,” Nelson Otwoma said.
Otwoma is the Executive Director, National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV in Kenya (Nephak).
The project also aims to improve food security and menstrual hygiene as well as provision of personal protective equipment among people living with HIV, adolescent girls and young women, key populations and persons with disability.
People living with HIV, adolescents, girls and young women, key populations and persons with disability have faced unique challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The need for adequate food and clean water to enable them adhere to treatment regimen has been identified as the most important.
“As the UN family in Kenya, UNAIDS will continue to intensify efforts in supporting people living with, at risk of and affected by HIV in Kenya as they cope with the effects of Covid-19,” deputy permanent representative of German embassy in Kenya Janina Gauder said.
Recent data shows that at least 1.5 million in Kenya are living with HIV, with close to 1.2 million of them being on treatment.
"This is to ensure that our communities feel appreciated, they can feel uplifted even as they go through turmoil of the effects of Covid-19 and as we also go into the festive season," International community of Women living with HIV Kenya chapter CEO Lucy Ghati said.
Evidence shows that social protection interventions have the potential to reduce social and economic drivers of HIV risk, improve utilisation of prevention interventions and adherence to antiretroviral therapy.
“The Covid-19 pandemic and the measures put in place to prevent its spread have triggered pervasive and devastating effects on people living with HIV and key populations’ livelihoods,” Otuoma said.
“You cannot address the problem of HIV when people are still vulnerable to other needs such as food,” National Aids Control Council CEO Ruth Masha said.
With the indiscriminate spread of Covid-19 globally, many populations are experiencing negative consequences such as job loss, food insecurity, and inability to manage existing medical conditions and maintain preventive measures such as social distancing and personal preventative equipment.
Some of the most disadvantaged in the Covid-19 era are people living with HIV and AIDS and other autoimmune diseases.
Edited by CM
