Kenya: Stalking the Aids virus in Samburu District
Kenya Daily Nation Newspaper, by Arthur Okwemba Publication 3/23/2006
Kenya--With only a bag, a file and a pair of strong legs, Daniel Ebongon traverses the width and breath of Samburu District hunting for the Aids virus.
Ebongon, known locally as the 'Hunter' has since December tested 231 people for HIV, giving a full new meaning to mobile VCT.
Today, when we caught up with him, the Hunter, had just walked over 25 kilometres to Lolkuniani in Wamba division, where several Samburu herdsmen and women had converged for the market day.
"This is one day I never miss, it offers a unique chance to meet a big group of people and possible clients," says Ebongon, who works for the Nomadic Community Trust.
As the people go about trading, the Hunter moves amongst them talking about the importance of knowing their HIV status. Some who have not heard of the virus are suspicious of his activities and rarely warm up to his messages.
On the other hand, those who agree to be tested are moved a few metres from the crowd where he counsels them, before carrying out the test. Within 30 minutes, the clients get their results.
Some who are willing but too busy trading have to be waited for, sometimes for as long as six hours when they are through with business. But yet others who are too busy have to be booked for the next market day. Even with all this difficulties, Ebongon is able to test three to four clients on every market day.
During other days, he moves to various homesteads educating the pastoralists about HIV and testing any who are willing. Although it has been difficult to cover a larger area, Ebongon will not be the only one walking around this area in the coming months.
Recently, the United Nations Population Fund, which has been funding activities on the prevention of HIV/Aids in the district, has trained people who will, among things, carry out mobile VCT work. At the moment, there is an innovative condom distribution system, which is supposed to work hand in hand with the mobile VCT strategy.
Because of the pastoralism lifestyle, UNFPA is facilitating the distribution of condoms through dispensers placed on tree branches along strategic routes. This enables men to pick these condoms as they go about their daily activities.
"The best strategy to intervene in the prevention and management of HIV/Aids in areas like Samburu is coming up plans that fit well with the way of life of these people," says Judy Karogo of UNFPA.
With the walking VCT and condom dispensers patched on trees, there is hope to reduce HIV prevalence from the current 8.1 per cent. "But easier said than done," says Ebongon
At times when he goes for a prior appointment he might find the client has moved, in which case
he has to track them down– a herculean task.
The other challenge is that people are demanding to be given ARVs before they agree to be tested. The situation becomes more difficult as those found to be HIV positive constantly follow him wanting to be provided with the drugs.
Although some of the hospitals in the district have ARVs, those infected have to walk for over 50 kilometres to reach the nearest centre.
A number of his clients who came for pre-test counselling have failed to return for post-test counselling; while others have never returned for another test after the three months window period.
The situation is equally difficult for him when he tries to convince his relatives friends and acquaintances to be tested. "Some of these people fear that confidentiality will be compromised and would rather have the test done by a stranger."
Despite all these difficulties, mobile VCT centres are being touted as the best strategy in reaching out to as many people as possible in the rural areas and communities living in extreme remote areas.
In a recent interview, Dr Kevin DeCock, former director of the US Centres for Disease Control in Kenya, said establishing VCT centres in areas where people are dispersed was going to be a waste of resources.
He argued that the use of mobile VCT centres which are operated by people not from the community where the tests are being done would be the best way forward.
Source: Kenya Daily Nation
Kenya--With only a bag, a file and a pair of strong legs, Daniel Ebongon traverses the width and breath of Samburu District hunting for the Aids virus.
Ebongon, known locally as the 'Hunter' has since December tested 231 people for HIV, giving a full new meaning to mobile VCT.
Today, when we caught up with him, the Hunter, had just walked over 25 kilometres to Lolkuniani in Wamba division, where several Samburu herdsmen and women had converged for the market day.
"This is one day I never miss, it offers a unique chance to meet a big group of people and possible clients," says Ebongon, who works for the Nomadic Community Trust.
As the people go about trading, the Hunter moves amongst them talking about the importance of knowing their HIV status. Some who have not heard of the virus are suspicious of his activities and rarely warm up to his messages.
On the other hand, those who agree to be tested are moved a few metres from the crowd where he counsels them, before carrying out the test. Within 30 minutes, the clients get their results.
Some who are willing but too busy trading have to be waited for, sometimes for as long as six hours when they are through with business. But yet others who are too busy have to be booked for the next market day. Even with all this difficulties, Ebongon is able to test three to four clients on every market day.
During other days, he moves to various homesteads educating the pastoralists about HIV and testing any who are willing. Although it has been difficult to cover a larger area, Ebongon will not be the only one walking around this area in the coming months.
Recently, the United Nations Population Fund, which has been funding activities on the prevention of HIV/Aids in the district, has trained people who will, among things, carry out mobile VCT work. At the moment, there is an innovative condom distribution system, which is supposed to work hand in hand with the mobile VCT strategy.
Because of the pastoralism lifestyle, UNFPA is facilitating the distribution of condoms through dispensers placed on tree branches along strategic routes. This enables men to pick these condoms as they go about their daily activities.
"The best strategy to intervene in the prevention and management of HIV/Aids in areas like Samburu is coming up plans that fit well with the way of life of these people," says Judy Karogo of UNFPA.
With the walking VCT and condom dispensers patched on trees, there is hope to reduce HIV prevalence from the current 8.1 per cent. "But easier said than done," says Ebongon
At times when he goes for a prior appointment he might find the client has moved, in which case
he has to track them down– a herculean task.
The other challenge is that people are demanding to be given ARVs before they agree to be tested. The situation becomes more difficult as those found to be HIV positive constantly follow him wanting to be provided with the drugs.
Although some of the hospitals in the district have ARVs, those infected have to walk for over 50 kilometres to reach the nearest centre.
A number of his clients who came for pre-test counselling have failed to return for post-test counselling; while others have never returned for another test after the three months window period.
The situation is equally difficult for him when he tries to convince his relatives friends and acquaintances to be tested. "Some of these people fear that confidentiality will be compromised and would rather have the test done by a stranger."
Despite all these difficulties, mobile VCT centres are being touted as the best strategy in reaching out to as many people as possible in the rural areas and communities living in extreme remote areas.
In a recent interview, Dr Kevin DeCock, former director of the US Centres for Disease Control in Kenya, said establishing VCT centres in areas where people are dispersed was going to be a waste of resources.
He argued that the use of mobile VCT centres which are operated by people not from the community where the tests are being done would be the best way forward.
Source: Kenya Daily Nation
posted by AIDS-Care-Watch at 11:36 pm
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