At CIHEB Kenya, we believe that no child should be left behind in the fight against HIV. We understand the unique journey of children and adolescents living with HIV and the challenges they continue to face in achieving optimal health; hence, we are dedicated to creating a supportive environment that not only ensures optimal health outcomes but also empowers them and their families. CIHEB Kenya has developed and scaled up innovative, evidence-based interventions to improve adherence, viral suppression, and overall well-being of CALHIV and their families.

Approach

Our approach is comprehensive, client-centered, and family-inclusive, recognizing that long-term health outcomes are best achieved when children, caregivers, communities, and the healthcare system work together.

Recognizing caregivers as the cornerstone of a child’s well-being, CIHEB Kenya has leveraged existing Ministry of Health Training Curricula to empower caregivers with the knowledge and skills to support their children from the moment of diagnosis and throughout their treatment journey. Collaboratively with caregivers, individualized treatment plans are developed, and regular reviews are done to address the challenges each child faces in adhering to their treatment.

To ensure that care is tailored to the specific needs of children and adolescents, CIHEB Kenya has been able to implement: Family Centered Clinics, where children are seen together with their caregivers, Flexible clinic services with convenient hours, ensuring that children and adolescents can access care they need without disruptions to their daily routine, Dedicated clinic days where activities supporting them are integrated into clinical visit like psychosocial support groups, and Viremic Clinic Days to support CALHIV who are failing treatment. To mitigate treatment fatigue, CIHEB Kenya also implements Multi-month dispensing, reducing the frequency of clinic visits. This approach ensures that established and stable children receive adequate support while delivering an enhanced package of care to priority children who may require more frequent visits.

Additionally, individuals facing challenges with viral suppression receive peer support from peer educators who offer guidance, mentorship, and a sense of community by sharing their stories. Caregivers struggling are also linked to caregivers like them supporting CALHIV for support. The program has employed innovations like video DOTs, a mobile phone application that ensures consistent adherence to medication. For Complex cases, CIHEB Kenya collaborated with Regional Technical Working Groups (RTWGs) in the respective regions for expert consultation and management.

Committment

Beyond the clinical aspects of care, CIHEB Kenya is deeply committed to the emotional and social well-being of CALHIV, hence implements Expressive Art Therapy, which provides a safe space for children to process their emotions, build resilience, and find healing through creative expression. Additionally, programs offer disclosure and post-disclosure support to help children and caregivers navigate the process of sharing their HIV status, fostering open communication and understanding, and eventually Transition support as they transition to the adult clinics.

Recognizing the vulnerability of CALHIV to violence, CIHEB Kenya has been able to offer violence prevention services and post-violence support to survivors of violence, including counseling, medical care, and legal assistance, through collaborations with key stakeholders like the Kenya School of Law, and leverage the networks of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children partners.

Additionally, CIHEB Kenya is acutely aware that children of adults living with HIV in their cohorts and priority population, like the fisherfolk and Key Population, reached with prevention services are also vulnerable and has been able to work with other stakeholders to ensure the children are enrolled into OVC programs and DREAMS programs, irrespective of their status, and receive skills that ensure they thrive.

CIHEB Kenya collaborates closely with the Ministry of Health, aligning our programs with national priorities. Together with other dedicated partners, we are committed to ensuring that every child and adolescent living with HIV has the opportunity to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.