Kilifi South is one of the newest CARE for AIDS centers located in the Rural Mombasa region in Kenya. Kilifi is a rural community a few hours North East of the port city of Mombasa. While the coastal region of Kilifi boasts beautiful tourist-filled beaches, the inland community is suffering from extreme poverty and HIV infection rates hovering around 5%. Stigma against HIV/AIDS is strong in this region of the country, and many community members refuse to be tested because of the fear surrounding the disease. Access to medical care is low in rural Kilifi, and mental health services are nearly nonexistent.
This center launched in the summer of 2019 as part of our rural pilot project. You can learn more about this pilot project in the video below.
Center Staff
Health Counselor: Hilton Birya
Hilton was raised in Malindi Town in northeast Kenya, one of ten children. After completing his studies in clinical medicine, Hilton jumped at the chance to join the CARE for AIDS team in rural Mombasa as an opportunity to use his medical knowledge to strengthen the rural Kenyan community.
“I dream for my clients to have a quality life, despite their diagnosis.”
Spiritual Counselor: Monica Mbeyu
Monica grew up in Kilifi County, in a village called Jibana. Her family was a social one, and taught Monica the joys of connecting with others as a child. Because of this, she is passionate for her community, and desires most to work with those most vulnerable in it. Home visits are the best part of Monica’s job because of the ability to sit one-on-one with clients and hear their stories.
“My dream is to see [my clients] at another level than where I found them - spiritually, emotionally, socially, economically, and physically.”
center history
YEAR GRADUATES FAITH DECISIONS ORPHANS PREVENTED
2019-2020* N/A N/A N/A
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.
Client Profiles
Sophia, 2021 Client
Sophia is 36 years old and a mother of four children. She is also a grandmother of two and a widow. She lives with her mother at her rural home with her two grandchildren.
Sophia was diagnosed HIV-positive in 2015. Her health started to deteriorate. Due to stigma, she could not socialize with others freely. A few years later, she was involved in a road accident while she was on a motorbike. Her left leg was injured and she ended up with a deep wound.
When Sophia joined our program, she was very malnourished and her large wound was not well managed. Through our program, Sophia has benefited from the food package, counseling sessions, one-on-one sessions, home visits, NHIF Support, and MEF support. So far, she has learned how to make jik, dettol, and liquid soap to sell and for personal use at home.
Today, Sophia is doing well. She is no longer underweight and her health is improving. Her wound is healing and she is grateful for being in the CARE for AIDS program. We are looking forward to her full recovery and for her to gain more knowledge and skills to handle life’s challenges and live a healthy life to the fullest by the time she graduates.
Sophie said: “The CFA program has taught me that there is a living God who uses people to help others. I have hopes that the wound I have been nursing for one year and a half with no hope of healing is now going to heal in Jesus’ name.”
John Mrima, 2020 client
John has been living with HIV for nearly 20 years. When he first found out about his status, he was terrified.
“The first year of my diagnosis, I wasn’t so much worried about my life; I was more worried about what I will do to my children and wife.”
John and his family live in rural Kilifi, a few hours outside of Mombasa, Kenya. Because of the limited access to medical care and health information, John didn't know much about his diagnosis and was so worried that he would spread the virus by being around others. He ate separately from his family and washed his dishes while the rest of the family slept. Over time he grew lonely and exhausted. John eventually received medicine and education about HIV/AIDS through a local clinic, but he struggled to be open about his status and still lived in shame.
“I was ashamed to be open about my condition due to fear of embarrassment and humiliation, but I’m happy with the love and support from my friends and family."
In 2019, the church in John's community in Kilifi agreed to partner with CARE for AIDS to pilot a rural program.
“Lucky me, a pastor from my village linked with CARE for AIDS staff, and I was registered as a client. I have learned a lot of skills that I am using to do small business and earn a living. CARE for AIDS has removed the spell [of HIV]. There is always a life after an HIV-positive diagnosis, and I now speak about it!”
Since hearing about the program in 2019, John has recruited 20 other men from his community to join the Kilifi South center as clients.