Aphia II Eastern, Workplace Program
The program works to create awareness on HIV & AIDS and other Reproductive Health issues in workplaces as well as implement workplace programs with full monitoring support. It is coordinated by 5 Field coordinators and 1 Program Officer.
The program is currently working with the following groups:
- Workers in Tea Factories and Flower Farms (Embu, Meru & Timau)
- Warders and Inmates in Meru & Embu Prison
- Students and lecturers in Tertiary Institutions (Embu & Meru)
- Commercial Sex Workers (Isiolo & Meru)
- Informal worksites (Embu, Isiolo & Timau)
Objectives of the Workplace Program:
- Training of staff as peer educators, conducting management sensitizations and community outreaches to provide information on HIV & AIDS and other Reproductive Health (RH) issues.
- To develop, review and disseminate comprehensive and integrated HIV/AIDS workplace policies in the workplaces.
- Rehabilitation and enhancing re-admission to school for teen sex workers as well as linking them with OVC programs for other needs.
- Promote safer sex practices including proper condom use among older sex workers, while linking them with alternative livelihood opportunities after training.
- Provision of HIV Counseling Testing.
- Education and referral on prevention of Mother to Child Transmission, Tuberculosis Malaria and Reproductive Health /Family Planning including treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
- Psycho social support for People Living With HIV through on site counseling or referral to nearest health facilities.
Success Story
Drug Peddler to Anti-Drug Crusader
Davinchy bounces up the small stage holding a microphone. He is the Master of Ceremonies for an event – a talent show for young people in Kitengela, Kenya. Before the event ends, he will have passed information about the importance of VCT, the risks of multiple partners, and the dangers of drug use, along with other healthy living information. Apart from being an MC for events he is also an actor and loves it. He is realizing his dreams.
Davinchy’s real name is Kelvin Mwendwa Kithua and he has not always loved his life. He started peddling bhang when he was in high school in Kitengela and continued the trade after he finished school. In 2007 he visited the Youth Resource Centre at the Kitengela Centre of HOPE with the aim of selling drugs to the youth at the site. Activities in the centre aim at educating the youth about taking responsibility for their health and their life. The Centre located in Kitengela Township started operating in August 2007 and was officially launched in June 2008. It is supported by the Wal-Mart Foundation and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
When Davinchy visited the centre he could not sell drugs there and got interested in what was being offered. Being charismatic and influential he was identified as a potential peer educator and in 2008 was trained by HWWK as a peer educator. Since then he has made it his personal mission to campaign against drug abuse. In the same year he trained in micro-entrepreneurship and started earning a living as a Master of Ceremonies for events. When he’s not being an MC he volunteers at the Kitengela Centre of HOPE.
In 2009, he wrote the following letter to HWWK:
