Rev. Simon Shem NgikiRev. Simon Shem Ngiki 2121stst March2013 March2013

Increasing Couple HTC Uptake through Capacity Increasing Couple HTC Uptake through Capacity Building of Religious Leaders: Experiences from Building of Religious Leaders: Experiences from

Eastern Province, Kenya.Eastern Province, Kenya.

Who are we?Who are we?World Provision Centre is a non- profit FBO established in 2001 to World Provision Centre is a non- profit FBO established in 2001 to promote sustainable access to HIV Counseling and testing in the promote sustainable access to HIV Counseling and testing in the

Eastern region of Kenya.Eastern region of Kenya.

Today we work in two Counties serving a population of 1,983,111 Today we work in two Counties serving a population of 1,983,111 Our main target groups are Couples, Sex-workers and Long Our main target groups are Couples, Sex-workers and Long

Distant Truck Drivers and Youths.Distant Truck Drivers and Youths.

We have established Voluntary Counseling and Testing Sites We have established Voluntary Counseling and Testing Sites along the famous Mombasa – Nairobi Highwayalong the famous Mombasa – Nairobi Highway..

• Kenya has currently an estimated population of 38.6 Million.Kenya has currently an estimated population of 38.6 Million.

• Adult HIV Prevalence in Kenya stands at 6.2% With Adult HIV Prevalence in Kenya stands at 6.2% With estimated 1.4 Million Kenyans living with HIV.estimated 1.4 Million Kenyans living with HIV.

• KMOT 2009 estimated heterosexual transmission of KMOT 2009 estimated heterosexual transmission of HIV HIV amongst couples within unions/regular partnership in Kenya amongst couples within unions/regular partnership in Kenya to responsible for 44.1% of new infectionsto responsible for 44.1% of new infections..

Our working environmentOur working environment

• Eastern Region is a highly Christian area with over 80% of all Eastern Region is a highly Christian area with over 80% of all heterosexual relationships being solemnized in church.heterosexual relationships being solemnized in church.

• Poverty is directly linked with HIV prevalence even within Poverty is directly linked with HIV prevalence even within heterosexual relations.heterosexual relations.

• Within the Church establishment HIV/AIDS is shunned as a Within the Church establishment HIV/AIDS is shunned as a profane affliction that must not be mentioned in the pulpit.profane affliction that must not be mentioned in the pulpit.

OurOur Working environment Cont’dWorking environment Cont’d

In 2011 we initiated a six month Project that sought to increase In 2011 we initiated a six month Project that sought to increase uptake of HTC Services among heterosexual couples by building uptake of HTC Services among heterosexual couples by building the capacity of 22 churches in Kenya's Eastern region to promote the capacity of 22 churches in Kenya's Eastern region to promote

uptake of HTC Services among their congregations.uptake of HTC Services among their congregations.

The InnovationThe Innovation

How did we do this? – Step 1How did we do this? – Step 1

• Identified 22 target churches within the region.Identified 22 target churches within the region.

• Invited lead Pastors and their spouses as well as Church Invited lead Pastors and their spouses as well as Church Chairmen and their spouses to a two day HIV sensitization Chairmen and their spouses to a two day HIV sensitization Seminar. Seminar.

• Engaged participants on demystifying of HIV/AIDS within Engaged participants on demystifying of HIV/AIDS within pastoral practice.pastoral practice.

• Tested all participants as couples on the second day.Tested all participants as couples on the second day.

How did we do this? – Step 2How did we do this? – Step 2

• Pastors and Church Chairmen to use all available Platforms including Pastors and Church Chairmen to use all available Platforms including the pulpit to talk about HIV.the pulpit to talk about HIV.

• All participants to openly attest to having taken a HIV test.All participants to openly attest to having taken a HIV test. • Church leadership to plan for a Couple Voluntary Counselling and Church leadership to plan for a Couple Voluntary Counselling and Testing Sunday (VCT Sunday) of congregations after Church Service.Testing Sunday (VCT Sunday) of congregations after Church Service.

• Pastors and Church Chairmen together with their spouses to take Pastors and Church Chairmen together with their spouses to take lead in testing during the Couple VCT Sunday.lead in testing during the Couple VCT Sunday.

So what happened after?So what happened after?

• Overall increase in the number of people tested.Overall increase in the number of people tested.

• An increase in percentage of clients tested as couples from 9% to An increase in percentage of clients tested as couples from 9% to 39%.39%.

• Request for repeat of Couple VCT Sundays by participating Churches. Request for repeat of Couple VCT Sundays by participating Churches.

• Request from non-participating churches for similar Couple VCT Request from non-participating churches for similar Couple VCT Sunday initiatives.Sunday initiatives.

How difficult was it?How difficult was it?

• Outright refusal to participate in the initiative.Outright refusal to participate in the initiative.

• Refusal of participating churches to embrace the Couple VCT Refusal of participating churches to embrace the Couple VCT Sunday concept.Sunday concept.

• Mysterious disappearance of men during couple testing sessions.Mysterious disappearance of men during couple testing sessions.

• Managing conflict among discordant couples.Managing conflict among discordant couples.

What did we learn?What did we learn?

• HIV testing is still largely perceived and condemned as a HIV testing is still largely perceived and condemned as a profanity in the church.profanity in the church.

• The deliberate silence of the Church further stigmatizes The deliberate silence of the Church further stigmatizes HIV/AIDS.HIV/AIDS.

• Couple Testing and Counselling can only be sustained through Couple Testing and Counselling can only be sustained through a church driven demand for HTC services.a church driven demand for HTC services.

...after all is said and done...after all is said and done

HIV/AIDS is sitting in the pews of the Church amongst HIV/AIDS is sitting in the pews of the Church amongst our godly congregation.our godly congregation.

And now photo sessionAnd now photo session

And now photo sessionAnd now photo session