HIV / AIDS

Up Our Needs About Mathare Valley Education and Feeding HIV / AIDS Rehabilitation Visits to Mathare Women's Advocacy






 
HIV/AIDS is a huge problem in Mathare Valley. The project cares for project has taken over responsibility for them. The children are provided with education, food, clothing, and rent. When a child is accepted into the Mathare Outreach School ministry, our social workers evaluate the entire family situation. They have to know where each child lives, and the type of situation they live in each day. Many times they have the difficult talk of helping a family whose only surviving parent is dying from AIDS. Once a parent dies from AIDS, the project moves in to pay the house rent so that the children are not thrown out of their home. The project also provides these children with clothes, food, and ongoing counseling.



This former Student died of AIDS.
Cyprine's family is an example. She recently died from HIV/AIDS. She used to live with her two sisters in their rented house. Their mother died from AIDS and their father is also very sick, although he is still working to support his family as much as he can. Most of the time, Cyprine spent her days at the Mathare Center kitchen, because there was no one at home during the day. Her sister Mildred attends class in the Outreach school, and Jacinta is enrolled in the Mathare Community Outreach Church nursery school.

Left to right: Mildred, Jacinta , Pastor Ogutu, Mrs. Ogutu, and Cyprine.

 

Mathare Community Outreach also ministers to AIDS/HIV victims who are bedridden and unable to earn a living for their  families. We provide counseling, food, rent money, and clothing for family members. We also provide medical screening for all new children and regular screening every three months. Shown here is Social Worker, Grace and a Nurse checking a student.

 

Mershella Dodo died of AIDS and left six children as orphans. While she was sick, we were feeding her and providing for her family needs. She appealed to Mrs. Ogutu to take care of her children when she died. Mathare Valley Community Outreach took over the responsibility of the entire family. We paid their rent for their small 8X6 foot home, we provided food, clothing, medication, counseling and school fees. The oldest daughter is now in her third year in Catholic University, sponsored by MCO. The remaining four children are currently enrolled in our programs where we continue to provide for their needs. There are many cases like this that we deal with every day.