community profile
The CARE for AIDS center in the Kasagam community in Kisumu opened in 2013 in partnership with Central Baptist Church. Kasagam is a slum community in Kisumu near Lake Victoria- the community has a high rate of poverty and a high HIV infection rate.
center staff
Medical Counselor: Anne Otieno
“I had a hard life in a polygamous family, which led to the death of my dad, mother and stepmother by HIV. Back then I did not have any knowledge about HIV. I decided to seek learn about the disease so that I could help others. I want them to know, even though it is a hard life, they do not to have to die but can live a life beyond AIDS.”
Spiritual Counselor: Joseph Lumumba
Joseph, who is married to Vivian, has served with CFA since 2012. He knows the struggle of orphans first hand, growing up in an orphanage after his parents died when he was young. Now he loves to teach the word of God and counsel others. He wants clients to grow and be empowered in order to take care of their loved ones.
center history
YEAR GRADUATES FAITH-DECISIONS ORPHANS PREVENTED
2018-2019 65 17 185
2019-2020* 76 44 216
2020-2021 TBD TBD TBD
*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.
graduate profiles
Henry is a father of five. He joined the CARE for AIDS program at Central Baptist Church in 2017 after being fired from his job as a waiter at a hotel in Kisumu Town. Complications and opportunistic infection related to his HIV status made him too weak to work, and he was struggling to make ends meet. When he joined the program, he told Ann, the center’s Health Counselor, that he had been experiencing searing pain in one of his legs since 2007, and the pain was becoming unbearable. Ann immediately took Henry to a local hospital to get his leg checked, and he was prescribed a medication that helped ease his pain. Ann guided Henry through the process of enrolling in the Kenyan National Hospital Insurance Fund, and now he is able to regularly visit the doctor and receive prescription medication without fear of bankrupting his family. Henry graduated in March and is thriving. He now sells produce at a small kiosk in town and is able to make enough money to support his children.