National HTC Symposium

Theme:  Re-positioning HTC as a critical enabler to the HIV responseLVCT Presentation: Integrating HTC and other services; lessons learnt fromLVCT service delivery points                                    Dates: 5th-6th June 2013                     Venue: Panari Sky Centre, Nairobi

2nd Biennial HIV and AIDS Conference

LVCT Presentation: Integration of Family Planning in HIV services                    Dates: 6-9 May 2013                       Venue: Kenya School of Monetary Studies,Nairobi

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Gender Based Violence forum opens in Nanyuki

 March 27, 2012 - In a bid to stem the rising cases of gender based violence (GBV) in Central Province of Kenya the Government of Kenya in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organised a two day forum to deliberate on issues around creating a multi-disciplinary approach to the issue. The conference held in Nyanyuki from 27 – 28 March 2012 brought together various stakeholders under the APHIA Plus Kamili Project; a five year project funded by USAID in collaboration with the Government of Kenya to address Gender Based Violence in Central and Eastern Provinces. Addressing the forum, the Assistant Provincial Commissioner for Central Province Francis Sila said the new constitution gives equal rights to both men and women. “When we passed a constitution we wanted to have a country with equal status for both sexes,” he emphasised.The forum whose theme was creating a safe space, a multi-disciplinary approach to gender, sought to develop strategic relevant multi-stakeholder partnerships and alliances and create a space for deliberation and sharing of experiences on the dynamics of gender based violence.LVCT’s Care and Treatment Manager Dr Lina Digolo called on coordination of all stakeholders towards the achievement of the conference theme. While acknowledging the work that LVCT has done in various parts of the country in partnership with the government and other stakeholders, she said their still remains many challenges that need to be addressed. Dr Digolo called for standardisation of the evidence collection techniques for gender based violence between the police and the health system. “Whilst there are growing statistics of gender based violence in the country and across the continent, there is a limit in the personnel and facilities equipped to handle the rising cases,” she said and added that these are some of the challenges the stakeholders forum should seek to address.

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Launch of the sexual offences act report

Nairobi, April 2nd 2012 - The Task Force on the Implementation of the Sexual Offences Act yesterday launched a report on the implementation of the act in Kenya. The report, ‘Sexual Offences Act Implementation Workshop 2011’ contains an assessment of what has been achieved in the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act since its inception in 2007, existing challenges, and actionable recommendations to be implemented now and in the long term.In a speech read on his behalf during the launch the Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya Prof Githu Muigai reaffirmed the government’s commitment to work with all stakeholders on the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act and particularly to use the findings contained in this report to inform policy and other national interventions on response and prevention of sexual violence in Kenya.“This publication will no doubt serve as a valuable reference and resource for those addressing sexual violence in Kenya. I hope the recommendations of the report will spark further discussions among stakeholders, policy makers and development partners in Kenya,” he saidHe further announced that the Witness Protection Agency is now fully operational and it is envisaged that it will be instrumental in reporting and prosecution of sexual violence cases by aiding in obtaining sufficient evidence from persons who would otherwise fear to engage with the criminal justice system.Speaking during the launch, the Deputy Prosecution Counsel in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Tabitha Ouya, who represented the DPP Keriako Tobiko said the  office of the director has appointed a multi-sectoral team to review post-election violence cases related to sexual offences.Supreme Court Judge Hon Lady Justice Njoki Ndung'u who was also present and who was the mover of the Sexual Offences Bill during the 9th Parliament said the implementation of the law requires political goodwill.LVCT’s Executive Director Dr Nduku Kilonzo cited several hindrances in the implementation of the sexual offences act which included challenges in the community and informal justice, health sector, investigation and prosecution, judiciary and justice, prison and probation, forensic evidence and limited coordination between stakeholders.The launch was hosted by LVCT and FIDA with funding from the United Nations Trust Fund. Download Summary Report Download...

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LVCT's work on Gender based violence and HIV honoured at the White House

 Washington DC, March 14, 2012: LVCT's Executive Director Dr Nduku Kilonzo made a presentation at the White House on Gender Based Violence and HIV linkages during a special event to celebrate the National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness day.  LVCT has over the last 6years pioneered in GBV/HIV responses. The event was attended by Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer and U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby.  This followed an invitation from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  "I am excited to present our GBV/HIV work at White House and  share our expertise in this area as an indigenous organization.  Gender-based violence is an epidemic with far reaching impact on health, education and the economy.  We cannot continue to give it divided attention or ignore it. We need to build the evidence for programs.  We need long-term investment in expanding services", stressed Dr Kilonzo.  {youtube}0E6TAUkbTNw{/youtube}

LVCT presents at CROI

Seattle March 8, 2012: LVCT’s Executive Dr Nduku Kilonzo today gave a presentation on new frontiers in HIV testing at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). CROI is a scientifically focused meeting of the world’s leading researchers working to understand, prevent, and treat HIV/AIDS and its complications. The goal of CROI is to provide a forum for translating laboratory and clinical research into progress against the AIDS epidemic. Over 4,000 leading researchers and clinicians from around the world convene in a different location each year for the Conference. Visit the conference websiteDownload Presentation

LVCT’s gender based violence work presented at the UN Headquarters in New York

The fifty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 27th February to 9th March 2012. The priority theme for this year’s event was the empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges.LVCT’s Executive Director Dr Nduku Kilonzo presented in the panel discussion on elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls on 29th February 2012. Her presentation was on the Provision of Support Services to Women and Girls Victims/Survivors of Violence which centered on what needs to be done to have a holistic and multi-sectoral response. She identified gaps, challenges and considerations for national systems that would facilitate scale up of services among other issues.Dr Kilonzo noted that the mandate for responding to violence against women is often with Ministries of Health, Police, Justice and Social services which develop sector specific responses in line with their Ministry responsibilities. “These ministries do not speak with each other, do not undertake joint planning and have no common referral pathways. The result is the lack of common frameworks that outline common points of reference, processes, roles, referral pathways, evidence requirements and training” she noted.  She said there is an urgent need for in-country mechanisms that coordinate different stakeholder including civil society actors.  She stressed that investment in services must be based on systems.The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It is the principal global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to gender equality and advancement of women. Every year, representatives of Member States, UN entities, and NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) from all regions of the world gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and women's empowerment worldwide.The two-week session include a high-level round table, interactive dialogues and panels, and parallel events.

LVCT’s wellness programme reaches out to the public sector

WEMA Kazini programme, LVCT’s unique wellness package for enhancing the health and wellbeing of staff at the workplace, organized a public sector workplace HIV Testing and Counselling update meeting on October 19, 2011 in Nairobi. The meeting was to inform the public sector players of the benefits of a workplace HIV programme and importance of addressing lifestyle illness at the workplace. In her opening remarks LVCT’s Deputy Director Dr Wanjiru Mukoma said the meeting was necessitated by experience in the workplace. “We realised that a healthy workforce is more productive and in the long run saves the employer time and resources used for treatment.” She further observed that it makes common sense to focus on the workplace because people spend most of their time there. She at the same encouraged employers to adopt the wellness programme in their workplace as it makes business sense. In her keynote address, The National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCOP) HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC) Manager Dr Ann Ng’ang’a said workplace HTC are voluntary and workers data and status should not be disclosed to employers unless an employee specifies so. “The services should be in a friendly environment where nobody feels coerced. Discrimination against workers on the basis of real or perceived HIV status is unacceptable and punished by law.” She said HTC services should begin with education to inform employers of the benefits and provide referrals to VCT sites. She further reiterated that principles of HTC which are counseling, confidentiality and consent should be adhered to. Dr Ng’ang’a said Kenya has adapted the new World Health Organisation guidelines that recommend annual retesting for the general population except in specific instances based on risk. Initially the HTC program recommended re-testing every three months for HIV negative people. “The purpose of these guidelines is to limit unwarranted testing and wastage of resources, foster early detection of HIV infection and enhance early referrals. She revealed that NASCOP is also exploring the option of self-testing and is planning to do a pilot to find out if it will be acceptable among Kenyan’s. “Certain population has not been reached by the current HTC approachesbecause they fear to go for VCT and would like to conduct the test privately” observed Dr N...

LVCT’s one2one Youth Hotline Runner Up in International UN Award

LVCT’s one2one Youth Hotline has now received UN recognition. The one2one Youth Hotline was runner up in the UN World Summit Youth Award 2011. The Awards are a unique worldwide contest for the best e-contents from young producers taking action on the Millenium Development Goals. LVCT’s one2one Youth Hotline was runner up from over 700 submissions from 99 countries. LVCT’s one2one Youth Hotline is East Africa’s only toll free telephone counselling service targeting young people aged 15-24. One2one Youth Hotline counsellors provide information on HIV testing and prevention, sexual reproductive health and relationships in a confidential and youth friendly way. They also receive and welcome calls from the larger population and the not so young. The World Summit Youth Award selects and promotes best practice in e-Content. It demonstrates young people's potential to create outstanding digital contents and serves as a platform for people from all UN member states to work together in the efforts to reduce poverty and hunger, and to tackle ill-health, gender inequality, lack of education, lack of access to clean water and environmental degradation.