Kenya
HealthBring HIV/AIDS Information to Kenyan Pediatricians
Bring HIV/AIDS Information to Kenyan Pediatricians
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Help bring specialized care to children in Kenya
The United Nations reports that only 5% of children living with HIV/AIDS receive any treatment. The Kenya National Pediatric HIV Training Program aims to improve this dismal figure by training healthcare workers how to care for these special patients.
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Children are not just small adults
Clinical treatment of children with HIV/AIDS poses particular challenges; children are not just small adults. The special care, treatment, and drug formulations children need require that physicians receive specific education, training, and on-going support.
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Doctors need to know children need special care
Children infected with HIV progress to full-blown AIDS more quickly than adults. These children are highly vulnerable to opportunistic infections and often respond poorly to immunization and treatment for otherwise routine childhood illnesses. Life-threatening co-infection with malaria and/or pneumonia exacerbates and compounds the challenge of diagnosing symptoms and providing effective treatment.
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Rates of childhood infection are staggering
Every minute a child under the age of 15 dies as a result of AIDS. Every day nearly 1,800 children become infected with the HIV virus.
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Testing for pregnant mothers’ infection rates
In Kenya, HIV prevalence in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics stands near 10%. Other Sub-Saharan Africa countries report rates higher than 30%.
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Healthier children create healthier communities
Kenya, indeed all the nations of Africa, need help to ease the suffering of these children and their families. We must invest in the welfare of Africa’s children in order to create healthy, prosperous, and self-sustaining societies on that continent.
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