CMMB Kenya

In 2002, CMMB established one of the first prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) clinics in North Kinangop, Rift Valley Province, Kenya. After opening additional PMTCT sites, CMMB has expanded its programmatic focus to the areas of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, voluntary medical male circumcision, and building local healthcare capacity.

HIV/AIDS

CMMB’s focus in Kenya centers on the HIV epidemic.  In a country where 1.3 million people are estimated to be living with HIV, only 50 percent of those eligible for life-saving antiretroviral treatment (ART) are receiving it. To help treat those in desperate need, CMMB’s work with the AIDSRelief consortium provided free ART to 34,908 people in 2009.  Through CMMB’s Born to Live and Mentor Mothers programs, trained community members reach out to expectant mothers and their partners and direct them to antenatal and HIV counseling and testing services.

CMMB also offers free Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision and HIV counseling and testing to young men and their families.  As part of the program, CMMB teaches life skills education, appropriate gender relations, the importance of safe choices, and how to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Building Local Capacity

In addition to providing disease-specific programs, CMMB builds the local capacity for healthcare services.  Kenya, like most sub-Saharan African countries, suffers from a “brain-drain:” many medical trained professionals leave the country once their schooling is complete to seek employment abroad.  The Tusaidiane program recruits medical and nursing school graduates to work as part of a service corps in some of the poorest hospitals within Kenya.  CMMB also provides resources and technical support to hospitals to facilitate their use of updated technology, such as computerized Health Management Information Systems (HMIS).