Meet the Kageno Community Health Team

(Left to Right, Magdaline (nurse), Eric (VCT Councilor) and Pamela (Community Health Worker)

With a 40% HIV prevalence rate, the highest in Kenya, Rusinga Island is at the forefront in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Acknowledging the importance of education in combating the spread of HIV as well as other STI’s, we dedicated the month of October to highlighting the importance of getting tested and “Knowing Your Status.”  Using Kageno’s School Health Program as a platform, Magdaline (Kageno’s Nurse), Eric (Kageno’s VCT councilor), Michael (an American volunteer), and myself (Community Health Worker) visited Kamasengre Secondary School every Tuesday, choosing a related topic to discuss each week.  

Kageno was lucky to have Hillary Cole, a visiting Community Health Worker from Canada, who has extensively studied the disease to assist with the teaching process.  With her help, we taught the students about how HIV affects your body, weakening the immune system, eventually making one increasingly susceptible to pneumonia and other vicious diseases.  Partnering with one of their teachers, we realized our discussion overlapped with the student’s recent biology lessons.  Armed with this knowledge, were able to show how HIV targets specific cells in your body, turning the body’s protective immune system against itself.  Once students had a sufficient understanding of the disease itself, we expanded upon our lesson by discussing means of transmission, and correcting many fallacious beliefs.  

Many students were surprised that with the advances in science and newly discovered drugs, it is now possible to prevent mother-to-child transmission.  The next week Eric led the discussion, focusing on prevention and benefits of testing.  After highlighting responsible ways to avoid the disease, he transitioned into managing the disease if one is infected.  Thanks to the burgeoning group of doctors committed to working towards finding a cure, the disease is no longer a death sentence; with anti-retroviral treatment (ARTs), it is now possible to lead a long and productive life.  

Three weeks after beginning this endeavor, students were educated about all parts of the disease, and excited to know their status.  After a group counseling session with all interested pupils, we began the test.  Ensuring confidentiality and privacy throughout the entire process, we were able to test twenty-seven students, and are happy to report everyone was negative!  Going forward with their lives, these students are committed to drastically reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS not only on Rusinga Island, but throughout Kenya, and the world.  As World AIDS Day approaches on December 1^st, thanks to Kageno’s Student Health Program, the residents of Rusinga Island are confident the prevalence of HIV/AIDS can only decrease on the island.

Written by Pamela

Kageno Community Health Worker 

Comments

[Caroline Russo]

I applaud the efforts and education. You accomplished invaluable lessons of educating the effects of HIV along with the student's status and supplied critical motivation to stay disease-free.