community profile
Ahero is a community in Kisumu with an extremely high infection rate- there are nearly 4,000 residents currently on ARV treatment in Ahero, and the community is highly affected by stigma. The CARE for AIDS center in Ahero opened in October of 2015.
center staff
Medical Counselor: Vallary Achieng Oyando
Val began serving with CARE for AIDS in 2015. Her favorite part of the job is seeing clients transformed, especially the bedridden. She is inspired when they are empowered, starting an income generating activity and providing for their families.
“I have always wanted to touch people’s lives, especially the vulnerable, in a different way because I believe I have a compassionate heart. I also like to see community transform positively and get rid of AIDS.”
Spiritual Counselor: Erick Edwin Ouma Osuka
Erick joined with CFA in 2016 as an opportunity to serve, to reach out to souls and to win them to Christ. He dreams that the clients will be God-fearing, prayerful and spirit filled people who will be living to fulfill God’s purpose on earth. For himself, he dreams of being a source of encouragement to someone and increase his own spiritual knowledge so he might help even more.
center history
YEAR GRADUATES FAITH-DECISIONS ORPHANS PREVENTED
2016-2017 68 27 87
2017-2018 80 22 226
2018-2019 75 18 230
2019-2020* N/A N/A N/A
2020-2021 79 6 196
*The cohort in the 2019-2020 class was impacted by delays in the CARE for AIDS program caused by COVID-19 lockdowns and health precautions. To learn more about how we responded to the pandemic, visit this page.
gradaute profiles
Linus, 2018 Ahero Graduate
In 2012, Linus found out that he was HIV-positive. At the time, he was living a very risky lifestyle and was not being faithful to his wife— unfortunately, Linus often got very sick and brought various illnesses back into his home, infecting his wife and children. Linus’ wife is a community health worker and heard about the CARE for AIDS program through her professional network. She convinced Linus to join the program with her in 2017, and they went through the nine-month process together.
Linus became a Christian in the program, and through a long process of counseling and reconciliation, he and his wife recommitted to their marriage. After he learned the importance of daily adherence to his ARV medication, Linus’ health began to stabilize. His viral load was lowering and he was determined not to bring any other infections or diseases into his home to harm his kids or his wife. His focus is on taking better care of his family, and he prays for God to protect them. Linus now reads his Bible daily and also teaches it to his children.
Linus’ dream is to be able to send his kids to a good school, so he’s practicing the crafts he learned in the CARE for AIDS seminars, including basket weaving and soap making, in order to sell his products in the market. He plans to save the money he makes to pay for his children’s school fees.
Linus now volunteers as a male champion with CARE for AIDS in Kisumu. When he meets another man who he thinks might be HIV-positive, Linus discloses his HIV status to the man. He tells men in the community about how his life has changed in the CARE for AIDS program, including what he has learned about nutrition, adherence to medication, and the various skills and crafts he has learned. His hope is that he can recruit men in the community to join the program and that they, too, can become strong, God-fearing leaders in their families.