Kenya- Hunger threatens effective use of anti-AIDS drugs
By Johnstone Wanjala, Sima Community Based Organisation, Kenya
Dressed in a beautiful brown cloths a donation from well-wishers – Grace 8, recites a poem before guests at the Nzoia county social hall in Kitale.
In her thin long hair, the light skinned orphan smiles charmingly at Standard Group’s HIV/AIDS peer educators and speaks in a strong and hopeful voice.
Her poem is touching. Her voice suddenly becomes faint. She plods on softly till the last line.
"HIV/Aids
The mother of all killers
You are shameless;
Took my parents away.
HIV/Aids
You hurt individuals
Family and households
You have brought disaster
We dare you to stop now”
Her job done, she dizzily moves to the nearest bench, where she lays her head in her aunt’s laps.
As she recited the poem, a boy aged about four kicks around a football made of plastic bread
wrappers tied with rope. After two minutes, he sits on the floor and then lies down – tired. He sucks his thumb quietly before drifting to sleep.
As a group of HIV- positive “clients” entertains journalists, the boy wakes for a minute, tries to nod his head to the rhythm of drums but is soon overcome by sleep. His mother casually picks him up and continues dancing with the group.
These are some of the lucky 76 Kenyans who have free access to anti-retrovirals (ARVs) but lack basic meals. They belong to Wakibe’s HIV/Aids support group.
Medicens Sans Frontiers (MSF) Belgium, Mbagathi Hospital and Coptic Hope Centre supports them with free ARVs, counseling and follow-up. Some are monitored to see if they actually need the ARVs.
"Mimi ni Glady’s Nyongesa na niko na HIV. Kwa kusema kweli, madawa tunayo, lakini kizunguzungu imetuzidi (I’m Glady’s Nyongesa and I’m HIV positive. We have drugs but dizziness overwhelms us),” says one member.
They all introduce themselves as MSF clients and found a sheng name for their HIV/Aids status – Uzi (thread). “Mimi nina uzi (I have thread),” they say. The connotation is that they are as thin as thread, not because of the illness but for lack of food.
Glady’s, 36, a housewife and mother of six. Tested HIV- six –month old baby died of pneumonia. “I did not believe the results. I jumped from one Voluntary counseling Test centre (VCT) to another – Avenue, Mbagathi, Casino, Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) but the results were all positive. My husband and I blamed each other and did not speak for a year although we lived in the same house”
With the couple now on an ARV regime, life has been a lot better. But with her husband retired from work on medical grounds and no source of income, Glady’s weight has dropped from 83kg to 38kg. “The ARVs have made me feel better when I started. But now they make me hungry and my head goes round and round. Sometimes I have no breath so I cannot even talk or get up.”
Beatrice Naliaka, 32, a former businesswoman, says she wanted to die when she tested HIV- positive. The married mother of five boys says she had a CD-4 count of four and her mouth kept bleeding. A where she joined the group in 2003.
“Initially, Simiyu had only six members. Then we would get nutritious foods, porridge and boosters every Friday and this took care of the ARVs. But suddenly there was an influx. Over 120 widows, jobless people and their children showed up and the meals were reduced to once a month,” says Naliaka.
Naliaka, who spent most of her money on herbal medicine and witchdoctors, says she is now jobless. But being at Simiyu has made a difference. From the group, the 135 members get moral support and food twice a month.
Simiyu started as a charitable outreach health services and home-based nursing care to the Huruma community with the Nursing Council of Kenya. Says Irine Nekesa Wesonga, the director and co-ordinator: “late 2002, one of our colleagues stopped coming to work for weeks.
A vegetable vendor told us she dive and hid herself for fear of stigmatization. When we visited her, she was too sick to recognize anyone or talk. She succumbed within the week”
Feeling guilty and ashamed, says Wesonga, they asked the vegetable vendor to inform any community member willing to disclose their status to come to Simiyu flats where they had a medical clinic. That is how clients started coming in large numbers.
When members get the time and energy, they weave woolen mats; spin kikoi, bed covers, shirts and shorts. They also pack liquid soap and beads.
Dr. William Kiarie of Crystal Hill, who offers voluntary services at Simiyu and has sponsored a youth member to driving school, says lack of food affects the administration of anti-retrovirals.
“When they stop taking drugs due to starvation, the whole cycle of treatment is affected and they have to start all over again. The side- effects can be devastating,” he says.
Prepared by:
Johnstone Sikulu Wanjala, Programme Coordinator/ Journalists.
Dressed in a beautiful brown cloths a donation from well-wishers – Grace 8, recites a poem before guests at the Nzoia county social hall in Kitale.
In her thin long hair, the light skinned orphan smiles charmingly at Standard Group’s HIV/AIDS peer educators and speaks in a strong and hopeful voice.
Her poem is touching. Her voice suddenly becomes faint. She plods on softly till the last line.
"HIV/Aids
The mother of all killers
You are shameless;
Took my parents away.
HIV/Aids
You hurt individuals
Family and households
You have brought disaster
We dare you to stop now”
Her job done, she dizzily moves to the nearest bench, where she lays her head in her aunt’s laps.
As she recited the poem, a boy aged about four kicks around a football made of plastic bread
wrappers tied with rope. After two minutes, he sits on the floor and then lies down – tired. He sucks his thumb quietly before drifting to sleep.
As a group of HIV- positive “clients” entertains journalists, the boy wakes for a minute, tries to nod his head to the rhythm of drums but is soon overcome by sleep. His mother casually picks him up and continues dancing with the group.
These are some of the lucky 76 Kenyans who have free access to anti-retrovirals (ARVs) but lack basic meals. They belong to Wakibe’s HIV/Aids support group.
Medicens Sans Frontiers (MSF) Belgium, Mbagathi Hospital and Coptic Hope Centre supports them with free ARVs, counseling and follow-up. Some are monitored to see if they actually need the ARVs.
"Mimi ni Glady’s Nyongesa na niko na HIV. Kwa kusema kweli, madawa tunayo, lakini kizunguzungu imetuzidi (I’m Glady’s Nyongesa and I’m HIV positive. We have drugs but dizziness overwhelms us),” says one member.
They all introduce themselves as MSF clients and found a sheng name for their HIV/Aids status – Uzi (thread). “Mimi nina uzi (I have thread),” they say. The connotation is that they are as thin as thread, not because of the illness but for lack of food.
Glady’s, 36, a housewife and mother of six. Tested HIV- six –month old baby died of pneumonia. “I did not believe the results. I jumped from one Voluntary counseling Test centre (VCT) to another – Avenue, Mbagathi, Casino, Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) but the results were all positive. My husband and I blamed each other and did not speak for a year although we lived in the same house”
With the couple now on an ARV regime, life has been a lot better. But with her husband retired from work on medical grounds and no source of income, Glady’s weight has dropped from 83kg to 38kg. “The ARVs have made me feel better when I started. But now they make me hungry and my head goes round and round. Sometimes I have no breath so I cannot even talk or get up.”
Beatrice Naliaka, 32, a former businesswoman, says she wanted to die when she tested HIV- positive. The married mother of five boys says she had a CD-4 count of four and her mouth kept bleeding. A where she joined the group in 2003.
“Initially, Simiyu had only six members. Then we would get nutritious foods, porridge and boosters every Friday and this took care of the ARVs. But suddenly there was an influx. Over 120 widows, jobless people and their children showed up and the meals were reduced to once a month,” says Naliaka.
Naliaka, who spent most of her money on herbal medicine and witchdoctors, says she is now jobless. But being at Simiyu has made a difference. From the group, the 135 members get moral support and food twice a month.
Simiyu started as a charitable outreach health services and home-based nursing care to the Huruma community with the Nursing Council of Kenya. Says Irine Nekesa Wesonga, the director and co-ordinator: “late 2002, one of our colleagues stopped coming to work for weeks.
A vegetable vendor told us she dive and hid herself for fear of stigmatization. When we visited her, she was too sick to recognize anyone or talk. She succumbed within the week”
Feeling guilty and ashamed, says Wesonga, they asked the vegetable vendor to inform any community member willing to disclose their status to come to Simiyu flats where they had a medical clinic. That is how clients started coming in large numbers.
When members get the time and energy, they weave woolen mats; spin kikoi, bed covers, shirts and shorts. They also pack liquid soap and beads.
Dr. William Kiarie of Crystal Hill, who offers voluntary services at Simiyu and has sponsored a youth member to driving school, says lack of food affects the administration of anti-retrovirals.
“When they stop taking drugs due to starvation, the whole cycle of treatment is affected and they have to start all over again. The side- effects can be devastating,” he says.
Prepared by:
Johnstone Sikulu Wanjala, Programme Coordinator/ Journalists.
Sima Community Based Organization
PO BOX 1691, Kitale
30200 Kenya.
Phone: +254- 733 453 339.
Email: sikuluj@yahoo.com
PO BOX 1691, Kitale
30200 Kenya.
Phone: +254- 733 453 339.
Email: sikuluj@yahoo.com
posted by AIDS-Care-Watch at 11:19 am
1 Comments:
Essential oils, roots and herbs can be used in a variety of ways to promote healthy living and how to relieve stress. They are used to create natural remedies for treating ailments common to both people and animals, to add flavor to food, to make perfumes and to create environmentally friendly cleaning products.
You do not have to own a garden to tap into the benefits of plants, roots and herbs. A few herb pots located by a sunny window are enough to get you started. Then, all you need are some essential oils and you are ready to go.
For therapeutic purposes, only the purest oils will do. It is possible to be fooled into thinking that you are purchasing a pure oil. Often, a lesser quality blend of several oils is used to mimic the properties of the pure oil. Blended oils are acceptable for fragrance purposes such as for perfuming a room, but pure oils are a "must" for medicinal purposes.
A reasonable guide to the purity of an essential oil is its price. Pure essential oils are generally more expensive. Common oils such as lavender and geranium are much cheaper than frankincense and carnation oil. It is advisable to become familiar with essential oil prices and then rely on this knowledge when purchasing oils from unfamiliar sources. Keep in-mind that you will generally get what you pay for. A price list from a reputable dealer is a valuable resource when purchasing essentials oils.
Usually, pure essential oils cannot be applied directly to the skin and must be mixed in a base oil to reduce their strength. Base oils such as almond oil or wheatgerm oil are commonly used for this purpose. Base oils are generally derived from seeds, nuts or vegetables and allow you to create essential oil remedies that can be massaged into the skin.
So, what do you need to get started with essential oils and natural remedies?
Without a doubt, Lavender is one of the most useful and desirable oils. Not only does it work wonders on cuts, bruises and burns, it also aids sleep and helps with relaxation.
The Tea Tree and Eucalyptus oils are useful for treating a variety of respiratory ailments. These are excellent for the treatment of colds and coughs. They can be massaged into the chest or burned in an oil burner to help clear the airways and prevent congestion. Tea Tree oil is a natural antiseptic and can be dabbed on cuts, bites and stings. It is often used to treat spots and pimples and when diluted with water, acts as a mouth gargle (keep in-mind it should never be swallowed).
Another basic antiseptic is Geranium oil. With its distinctive perfume and pain relieving properties, it is a necessary inclusion when starting out.
Peppermint oil should also be purchased as it treats digestive complaints and may be used in preparations for freshening breath.
For fragrant perfumes and establishing ambience in a room, buy some Patchouli and Ylang-ylang oils. Often combined in scented candles and air fresheners, a few drops of each in an oil burner creates a wonderfully perfumed home. Orange oil mixed with Cinnamon oil is a lovely winter alternative that evokes seasonal, holiday smells. Besides their perfume qualities, all four of these oils have other properties. Patchouli treats eczema and dandruff. Ylang-ylang is reputed to relieve stress, palpitations and high blood pressure. Orange is used in natural remedies for depression and nervous tension and Cinnamon is excellent for warts and viral infections.
The herbs, Thyme and Rosemary can be grown in pots and used when needed. To create essential oils from herbs, stew some large amounts in pure water, collect the steam and cool it. The oil will rise to the top of the drained water and can be collected with an eyedropper. Alternatively, a "flower still" can be purchased to make the job easier. Thyme and Rosemary are both antiseptics and can be used in skin care preparations. They are also delicious when used in cooking.
Lemon oil and fresh lemons will purify water and, when mixed with honey, are effective remedies for colds and flu. Lemon and white vinegar are highly efficient cleaning agents that can be used for domestic cleaning tasks without damaging the environment. Use white vinegar as a natural disinfectant or mix it with water to clean windows and wooden floors. It is also handy to keep a bottle of white vinegar in your car if you swim in the ocean. It will bring instant relief from jellyfish stings.
Citronella oil is perfect in summer to keep the insects at bay. Another natural repellent is Garlic. Fleas will not bite a dog that has been eating garlic, so a few garlic capsules in the dog food are a cheap solution to your pet's flea problem. A soft collar soaked in Citronella will also do the job.
Garlic also helps to promote a healthy immune system when the weather turns cold and viruses begin to circulate. In fact, most of the oils and herbs listed above are effective in helping to prevent many common winter illnesses.
Whether you are looking for remedies or nature friendly products to use around the house, the oils and herbs suggested above should help get you started. You will be ready to make some healthy changes in your way of life!
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