AFRICA/KENYA - St. Camillus Mission Hospital in Karungu resolves to fight AIDS with intelligence, love and respect

Friday, 26 November 2004

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Rome (Fides Service) - St. Camillus Mission Hospital in Karungu is involved in a number of programmes to support the fight against HIV/AIDS. Among the initiatives we mention: prevention group “Awake” which organises formative and educational meetings to change behaviour in the struggle to prevent transmission of AIDS; a network of “Hope and Life”, groups of HIV+ persons who help groups and individuals live their situation of illness; St. Camillus Dala Kiye programme of support at a distance for children who are AIDS orphans (about 4,000) primary school for 100 of them and secondary school for about 30.
The percentage of people with HIV/AIDS in Karungu area, Migori district, one of the poorest in Kenya, is 37%, one of the highest rates in the world.
It is estimated that every day in Kenya at least 500 people die of AIDS and about 9% of the total population (32 million) is HIV+. The people are ever more impoverished and the virus is decimating the age group 20 to 40 years. Anti-retroviral therapy is available at the price of 23 Euro a month, but must be taken for a long time. (AP) (26/11/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:19; Parole:216)