Friends Of Nyumbani

Category None
Bookmark :              

Africa Science News Service has written about how the famine in the Kitui district of Kenya has especially challenged the health of those who are receiving AIDS treatment. Nyumbani is singled out as an example of successfully coping under such difficult circumstances:

Sister Mary Owens, Executive Director, Nyumbani Villages located in Kitui West says that the institution has embarked on organic farming and drip irrigation to help boost growing of maize, sorghum, vegetables and fruits.

Owen told Africa Science News Service that her institution also plans to undertake cattle and goat rearing as well as bee keeping. Their effort has seen the Nyumbani Villages stop relying on relied on relief food from the government.

"Our programmes focus on support and care to the HIV/Aids orphans in Kitui and adjoining arid and semi arid areas where food scarcity is acute. However, innovative farming techniques through use of appropriate technologies has boosted food production in our farm so as to assure reliable and adequate supply of food to the needy children especially those put on ARV medication," says Mary.

The food supplements such as goat milk, traditional vegetables, fruits and sorghum are very rich in nutrients and form an integral component of treatment for HIV/Aids opportunistic infections offered at Nyumbani," she reiterates.

Nyumbani cares for 242 orphaned children and only 4% have tested positive to HIV/Aids. There is a Health Centre in Nyumbani Village that offers comprehensive treatment regime on HIV positive Orphans who have developed full blown Aids.

They are put on ARVs provided through the Nyumbani Children?ö?ç?ûs Home in Nairobi. The President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) is also providing ARV`S to Nyumbani Villages, says Mary.

"These organizations provide good environment for meeting the physical and social needs of a child such as nutrition, health and education," Kilonzo told Africa Science News Service.