Executive Director’s Message

The year 2008 was a challenging one for Kenya following the violence that resulted after the disputed 2007 December elections. With instability and killings across the country, the effects of this violence were felt in every part of Kenya as displaced people sought safer places to resettle. This greatly impacted health service delivery, especially with respect to People Living with HIV & AIDS (PLWHAs). KANCO, among other agencies, responded quickly to the effects in two main areas: in Nakuru to counter gender-based violence activities and in Kibera (Nairobi) with peace-building initiatives. As we supported these activities, we continued managing our other development programs in HIV and TB.

During the year 2008, the National AIDS and STIs Control Program (NASCOP) and the National AIDS Control Council (NACC), concluded two main studies. These include the Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey (KAIS) and the Mode of Transmission (MOT) study. As such, the country’s HIV programming has moved a notch higher. The results include the call for improved targeting and regionally specific programming to address HIV disparities among the most at-risk populations (MARPS). Through NACC, the government is developing a new National HIV & AIDS Strategic Plan to guide interventions that will address emerging challenges.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) are central to the HIV response in Kenya. In order to act upon the KAIS and MOT reports and Joint HIV & AIDS Program Review (JAPR) 2008, CSOs need to initiate programs that will focus on MARPS, including fishing folk, sex workers (SW), truck drivers, couples in steady and non-steady unions, men having sex with men (MSM), injection drug users (IDUs), men and women with multiple partners, pregnant women, as well as rural males and females in high prevalence districts and girls and young women under the age of 25. In addition, there is a call to strengthen prevention programs among positive and discordant couples. Currently, there is enough evidence on the role of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) for HIV prevention; hence, CSOs have major task in rolling out the male circumcision policy. Further, CSOs have to play a key role in scaling up and improving quality and widening coverage of PMTCT services. Most importantly, CSOs need to intensify campaigns on changing social norms around multiple/concurrent partnerships as they are champions in this.

TB continues to be a major challenge in the fight against HIV. Sixty percent of PLWHAs in Kenya are suffering from TB, and the emergence of drug-resistant TB is alarming. As a result, KANCO continues to advocate for the development, dissemination and implementation of TB policies. KANCO initiated a project to promote community participation in TB/HIV programmes and increase community awareness to improve case detection and  adherence to treatment.

KANCO seeks to be innovative and pioneer new approaches. We are prepared to do anything we can to help make the biggest possible difference in the lives of the people of Kenya. KANCO’s programmes improve community capacities, inform policy dialogue and provide information and documentation - linking communities and encouraging learning throughout the country. In addition, KANCO’s programmes address factors such as vulnerability, income generation, human rights and gender issues. KANCO has relentlessly built capacity of local and grassroots non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in organizational development, advocacy and policy dialogue, human rights, gender mainstreaming and greater involvement and participation of people living with HIV & AIDS (GIPPA).

I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to KANCO donors for their continued support, cooperation and partnership. My profound thanks go to all stakeholders and collaborators. Without their support, cooperation and partnership, KANCO could not have continued efforts to alleviate human suffering.

Sincerely,