Lake Victory Initiative Aids Persons With HIV In Migori County
Persons With HIV from six selected sub-counties in Migori county, are set to benefit from foodstuffs for the next three months from the Lake Victory Initiative that aims to cushion them from the effects of Covid 19.
Speaking at Kababu Technical Institute in Suna West while distributing the foodstuffs, the Executive Director of Lake Victory Initiative Mr. Peter Gwengi said that, they are targeting 125 vulnerable and very needy HIV individuals.
"We are currently working in Kuria East, Kuria West, Suna West, Nyatike, Uriri, and Suna East and our main target is vulnerable, disabled, and very needy HIV individuals", said Gwengi.
He noted that the reason they selected the six Sub Counties was that they had the highest HIV prevalence rate, the cosmopolitan issues especially in Suna East, and the highest number of vulnerable and very needy HIV persons.
Gwengi said that with the help of the Community Based Health Works, they were able to identify vulnerable, disabled, and very needy HIV individuals at ward levels.
Gwengi revealed that, he received a donation from one of the international communities of Women Living with HIV Kenyan Chapter with funding from UNAIDS. He said that the main theme of the donation was to put a smile on persons with HIV.
He also mentioned that the programme will give out foodstuffs, sanitary towels, surgical masks, and sanitizers worth Shs 300,000 every month for the next three months in the selected six Sub Counties, adding that, the programme which started in December 2021 aims to ensure that HIV persons have better nutrition and proper care.
The official attributed the suffering of Persons with HIV to the Covid 19 pandemic saying, as much as the foodstuffs won't be enough at least will enable them to supplement their daily needs and cushion the HIV persons from the effects of Covid 19 and HIV.
Gwengi said that nutrition was very critical for persons with HIV in terms of positive living. He said that the programme was meant to assist HIV individuals to live positively and healthier. The official acknowledged that the programme cannot assist all persons with HIV but the target was majorly the vulnerable, the disabled, and very needy individuals.
He said that after the end of the programme, they will assess and see if there is still a need to keep supporting persons with HIV.
Ms. Rose Achieng one of the persons with HIV thanked Lake Victory Initiative for their generosity. The 51 years old widow said that the foodstuff donated will help them in terms of food security and nutrition that the HIV persons fully depend on for their good health. She said that many persons with HIV were a vulnerable lot and the donation will go a long way in benefiting them.
She urged other organizations to come on board and assist vulnerable and needy people with HIV to ensure that they continue living positively and healthy.
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