Along the busy Mombasa–Nairobi highway, two health facilities just a few kilometers apart are quietly rewriting the story of HIV care - proving that small, focused interventions can make a lasting difference in people’s lives.

When Clinical Officer Janet Musyoka first stepped into the Comprehensive Care Clinic at Kikumini Health Centre, she faced an unspoken challenge - a challenge that went beyond medicine. The clinic operated from a single open hall where all services - consultation, counseling, triage and pharmacy-took place in full view of everyone. Patients struggled with discomfort, stigma and a lack of privacy. Many quietly dropped out of care, seeking help elsewhere.

Clients receive psycho-social health talk at the waiting bay ready to receive care at Kikumini health centre

Determined to change this, the facility sought support from CIHEB-Kenya.

Through funding from CDC-Kenya, CIHEB-Kenya’s PACT Imara Program renovated and restructured the facility into four private rooms. The once-crowded hall was since transformed into four private rooms dedicated to triage, consultation, counseling, and pharmacy services.

The renovated rooms at Kikumini Health Centre

Janet Musyoka , Clinical Officer attends to a patient in one of the renovated rooms at the facility

This simple yet crucial intervention was a gamechanger. According to Janet, this was more than structural - it restored dignity, confidentiality and trust. Patients could finally speak openly with their healthcare providers, knowing their privacy was respected.

“When clients walk into the clinic now, they know they’ll be treated with respect and confidentiality, that trust keeps them coming back.” she says.

The results were inspiring. Patient retention improved significantly, with the clinic’s active cohort growing from 288 to 317 clients, while the viral load suppression rate rose from 92% to 98%.

For Janet, the transformation represents more than numbers. ‘Patients now feel safe, respected, and motivated to stay in care.’ She notes.

Just a few kilometers away, Hillary Kiprono, Team Lead at the Makindu Drop-In Center (DICE), was facing a different crisis. Situated along the same highway-a hotspot for HIV transmission-the center struggled with a 25% antiretroviral therapy (ART) defaulter rate, threatening to reverse hard-won gains in HIV control.

A Client walks into Makindu DiCE for a normal clinic day check-up

With CIHEB-Kenya’s support, Hillary’s team launched the HIFADHI Quality Improvement Initiative, focusing on proactive client management through appointment reminders, pre-calling and peer-led follow-ups. The impact was inspiring: the ART defaulter rate dropped from 25% to just 5%.

Today, Makindu DICE stands as a model of success, serving over 310 clients, up from 110, with over 96% viral suppression. The center now offers a range of integrated services - from PrEP to mental health support-showing how a client-centered approach can save lives and build resilient communities.

Hillary Kiprono, Team Lead/ clinician at Makindu DiCE attends to a client

These two stories, from Kikumini and Makindu, reflect CIHEB-Kenya’s unwavering commitment to dignity in care, innovation in service delivery, and empowerment at the community level. When healthcare puts people first, transformation is inevitable.