CIHEB-Kenya is setting new standards in chronic care integration - bringing HIV, NCDs, and mental health services under one roof for better outcomes
How Integrated Care Restored Elizabeth’s Dignity
For Elizabeth Mulei Simba, a resident of Kilifi, managing high blood pressure and living with HIV used to feel like an uphill battle. Every month meant endless clinic visits, long queues, and constant worry. This was both time-consuming and emotionally draining. The routine was exhausting.
But what hurt the most was the stigma. At the HIV clinic, patients were given a bright yellow card that silently announced their status to everyone around. “It was humiliating,” Elizabeth recalls. “Every time I walked in with that card, I felt like everyone knew my story.”
Everything changed when CIHEB-Kenya, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, introduced the Integrated Chronic Illness Care Program. For the first time, Elizabeth could receive all her treatment under one roof. The new system combined HIV and non-communicable disease care, allowing patients like her to be attended to holistically and privately.
Today, Elizabeth receives treatment for both conditions at one facility - Kilifi County Hospital, in a private and respectful setting. Elizabeth no longer has to juggle between clinics or hide her clinic card. The yellow cards are gone, and with them, the fear of being exposed.
This simple change restored her dignity and gave her back precious time and peace of mind. “Now I feel human again,” she says with a smile. “I come to one place, I get all my care, and no one can tell why I’m here. That means everything.”
Her confidence restored, Elizabeth has become an outspoken advocate for others facing stigma. She encourages them to seek care without fear and reminds them that living with a chronic condition doesn’t define their worth.
Elizabeth now hopes the county government will expand the Integration model to more facilities within the county so that more people can experience the same life-changing care. “This program changed my life,” she says. “Everyone deserves the same chance.”
"When healthcare respects your privacy, it changes everything," Juliet Muhanji, Nursing Officer, Kilifi County Hospital notes with joy.
Her story is proof that when care is client-centered, dignity and health go hand in hand.