Mukuru Positive Living Initiative

Mukuru Positive Living Initiative evolved from an HIV intervention called St Mary's HIV/AIDS Project, started by the Catholic Church in Kwa Njega, Mukuru.

Approximately 50,000 people are living with HIV in the Mukuru area, an area which is prominently underserved by NGOs and Healthcare Providers.

MPLI has overseen the opening and management of the only government registered HIV testing Centre in the South B area and is planning to open another in Kwa Njenga. In the period from December 2003 to June 2004, 1000 people undertook voluntary HIV testing and learnt their results.

MPLI also run post-test support groups for people living with HIV. These groups provide a forum for psychosocial support and education and information giving. Currently MPLI runs 5 groups with a regular attendance of 80 clients, and educates clients on topics such as healthy lining, diet and exercise and sexual health and family planning.

The project also runs a small supplementary feeding programme for those who are very unwell or in extreme difficulties.

MPLI is run with the full cooperation and support of the community and is interlinked with other service providers in the local area, including a health care clinic and government TB Centre.

This project received funding from Childaid to purchase a vehicle for the counsellor, to enable him to get around all areas of the slum. In the year to Jan. 2006, MPLI received additional funding from Childaid to establish a second voluntary counselling & testing centre.