According to UNAIDS (2008), “The HIV/AIDS epidemic’s spread through the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa is highly varied.
Although it is not correct to speak of a single African epidemic, Africa is without doubt the most affected by the virus. Inhabited by just over 12% of the world’s population, Africa is estimated to have more than 60% of the AIDS-infected population. Much of the deadliness of the epidemic in Sub Saharan Africa has to do with a fatal synergy between HIV and tuberculosis, though this synergy is by no means limited to Africa…” (UNAIDS, 2008).
To reduce the HIV/AIDS prevalence, the government of Kenya has established Voluntary Counseling and Testing centers in all the provinces. This is although not sufficient for the rising number of new infections. The British government has agreed to finance and support this program.
The VCT centers are approved by National Aids Control Council and the Ministry of Health. The Njoro area which is within the Rift Valley province has three VCT centers that are: Njoro health center, P.C.E.A Njoro local church VCT center and Egerton university center (MOH, 2008).
These centers may not be enough to serve the rising population especially after the post election violence whereby many families moved to the area to seek refuge majority being 45years and below. It has also been noted that 64.1% of the population in this area have never been tested for HIV and 78% are ready to have Voluntary Counseling and Testing (BHA, 2009).
Some of the victims have been neglected by their families and have ended up living by the road sides. Others have been displaced after the 2007 country’s general election. Therefore the proposed project is aimed at establishing housing to victims and more VCT centers within Njoro area so that the services can be available to a high percentage of the population within the area and thus reduce the rate of HIV prevalence which is one of the Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015.
The targeted population is the youth in Njoro area aged between 15 and 40 years.
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According to research findings it has been noted that 60% of Kenyans do not know their HIV status. It has also been noted that the living conditions of the victims is poor thus access to health related services is limited .This has led to an increase in the rate of new infections and a high rate of spread of HIV (UNAIDS, 2007).
The above problem has been cited as a hindrance to the war against HIV/AIDS mainly because those who have not been tested tend to be potential victims of infection and re-infection thus delaying the application of the appropriate measures to HIV/AIDS intervention through nutrition support.
The proposed project is aimed at increasing delivery of VCT services by establishing housing for severely affected AIDS patients and three more VCTs in the Njoro area which will be operating for 24 hours. This will enhance counseling and testing of those youths who are still stigmatized but would like to know their status; services will be provided even at night.
Nutritional support will be given to those clients with signs of malnutrition i.e. those with BMI of less than 18.5. Community members will also be educated on the importance of counseling and testing through churches and demonstrations during barazas.
The Njoro area has a large number of youth who settled in the area after a recent post election violence. Their living condition is poor and most of them usually engage in casual labour to earn a living. Those who fail to get a chance in the available labour market tend to engage in commercial sex work especially women and girls and women. These prevailing conditions usually put the youth at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.
According to research, 64.1% of the population in this area has never been tested but is readily willing to be tested. With HIV/AIDS continuing to be a major public health concern in Kenya and the world, the issues surrounding acceptance and use of VCT need to be addressed. Enhancing community awarene
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