Press Release – CFK Africa Hails Promising New Treatments to HIV in Kenya After Ministry of Health Approves Dapivirine Vaginal Ring

Nonprofit says the latest approaches paired with community outreach efforts can bring results 

NAIROBI, KENYA – CFK Africa, an international nonprofit working to improve public health and economic prosperity in informal settlements in Kenya, stated that new treatments and ongoing prevention efforts, when combined with community outreach initiatives, could lead to significant progress in the fight against the HIV epidemic in Africa.

The Kenya Ministry of Health recently approved the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring (DPV-VR), a long-acting HIV prevention product that the World Health Organization recommends for women who are at substantial risk of contracting the virus. Meantime, an injectable version of the PrEP HIV prevention drug will be expanding in other parts of Africa through U.S. aid programs.

“These newer preventative treatments have the potential to help reduce the HIV rate in Kenya and other countries even more significantly,” said CFK Africa Executive Director Jeffrey Okoro. “When paired with our existing efforts at raising awareness and expanding health care, we may be on the cusp of a new era in HIV prevention in Africa.”

Since 2007, CFK Africa has provided HIV testing and treatment at its Tabitha Medical Clinic, which serves 35,000 patients each year in Kibera, one of the largest informal settlements in Africa on the outskirts of Nairobi. Patients who test positive for HIV receive anti-retroviral therapy at the clinic, with 3,578 patients receiving treatment over the past five years. Over 1,000 patients currently receive treatment.

Key partners in CFK Africa’s HIV prevention and treatment efforts are Ciheb-Kenya, a non-governmental organization that supports policy and guideline development, planning and coordinating HIV response at the national and county levels, and implementing HIV services at the facility level, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which co-hosts one of the largest infectious disease surveillance platforms globally in an informal settlement at CFK Africa’s medical clinic.

CFK Africa established the first comprehensive Youth Friendly Services Centre in Kibera in 2019. The center provides health services such as HIV testing, family planning consultations, psychological counseling, and education about sexual and reproductive health, specifically for youth. Currently, the center serves approximately 750 youth each year and offers vital HIV/AIDS testing and counseling services.

The ongoing stigma surrounding sexual activity and HIV often prevents young people from seeking health services, obtaining contraceptives, and asking important questions. To address this issue, CFK Africa conducts outreach activities outside of its healthcare facilities to help reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

These and other government and non-governmental programs have had an effect, as HIV prevalence among Kenyans aged 15-49 reduced by 50 percent from 2010 to 2019.

“We always knew that the fight against HIV would take years, if not decades,” added Okoro. “But we are seeing the fruits of those efforts already, and we know that the coming years will bring even more success if we take advantage of these new options.”

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About CFK Africa
Founded in 2001, CFK Africa works to improve public health and economic prosperity in informal settlements in Kenya through integrated health and youth leadership initiatives. Using a participatory development approach, the organization works directly with community residents to develop and implement sustainable programs. After marking 20 years of service in Kibera in 2021, CFK began expanding to 25 informal settlements across eight counties in Kenya, including Kajiado, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kisumu, Machakos, Mombasa, Nairobi and Nakuru. For more information, visit www.cfkafrica.org.

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