Older Persons and HIV/AIDS in Kenya

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Older Persons and HIV/AIDS in Kenya  

• Presenter Martin Oyosa Mubisi.
• Date of Presentation 11th May 2006
• Acknowledgements Project Concern International
  (PCI)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• HelpAge International ARDC

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Background

• Increasing numbers of older persons (OPs) with
  more responsibilities as carers for PLWHAs and
  orphans
• Isolation and poverty for
• PLWHAs and older persons
• Abuse of rights for OVCs
• and OPs
• Isolation of Traditional
• Healers
• Exclusion from HIV/AIDS
• policies and programmes

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1 Older people have an increased understanding
of HIV/AIDS and skills to care for PLWHA

• Awareness raising workshops for older people
• Training of older people as counselors and peer
  educators
• Training of older people as
• home-based care givers
• Provision of Home Based
• Care Kits
• Exchange visits of HBC
• and Counsellors

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2 Increased awareness, recognition and support
to promote the inclusion of older people affected
by HIV/AIDS at District, National and Regional
levels

• Awareness workshops for communities and local
  authorities
• HIV/AIDS awareness workshops for service
  providers and community leaders
• HIV/AIDS awareness for burial societies
• Networking to foster collaboration
• Production of HIV/AIDS Awareness materials
• Awareness through media
• Workshop for Constituency AIDS Action
• Committees

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3 Increased information and understanding by
traditional healers to provide appropriate
treatment for PLWHA

• Awareness workshops for traditional healers (THs)
• Support forum for THs

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4 Enhanced capacity of older people, orphans and
PLWHAS to access their basic needs

• Shelter repair
• Agricultural inputs (seeds, fertilizers and
  tools)
• Agricultural Extension support
• IGAs
• Training of older people in book
• keeping and marketing

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5 Improved care and support by older people for
OVCs

• Education support for orphans
• Support fund for HIV/AIDS affected families
• Support to older carers to access state benefits
• Awareness through schools drawing competition
• Awareness workshops for school teachers

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6 Increased networking and capacity building of
partners and other stakeholders

• Training workshops to enhance the skills of
  partners in the delivery of appropriate services
  with emphasis on participation, consultation of
  the most vulnerable older people, PLWHAs and
  orphans
• Training course on Ageing in Africa
• Finance Training and Systems Development
• Organizational Development
• Annual Peer Review

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• Key learnings
• Older persons are not generally targeted in
  HIV/AIDS education and support programmes
• Older persons are active participants in
  programmes.
• Older persons require nurturing skills for
  orphans.
• Older persons can achieve self-reliance if
  their skills are utilized.
• Working through established community
  structures makes it easier for the older
  person to mobilize local government support

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Summary

• Provide relief food to older persons families
  affected by HIV/AIDS
• Train older persons as volunteers in VCTs
• Nutrition sensitization for organizations working
  with PLWHA
• Caring for the carers
• Thank you

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HelpAge KenyaP.O. Box 34339-00100 Nairobi,
KenyaEmail helpageken_at_mitsuminet.comwebsite
www.helpageken.org
Older persons rights are human rights