Post-test clubs (PTCs) provided support to people living with HIV (PLWHIV) who were displaced after the 2007 post-election violence in Kenya. Members of PTCs visited displacement camps to identify and support PLWHIV, providing food assistance, linking them to healthcare, and encouraging adherence to antiretroviral treatment. However, PLWHIV faced challenges like stigma, treatment ignorance, and health issues due to poor camp conditions. PTCs helped empower displaced PLWHIV and create support networks, but their efforts also revealed gaps in emergency preparedness and support for PLWHIV during crises. Recommendations include strengthening grassroots support groups and sensitization to address stigma.

1. THE ROLE OF POSTTHE ROLE OF POST
TEST CLUBS DURINGTEST CLUBS DURING
THE POST ELECTIONTHE POST ELECTION
VIOLENCEVIOLENCE
BY:BY:
DANSAM OWINODANSAM OWINO
VOLUNTEER PEER COUNSELLOR INVOLUNTEER PEER COUNSELLOR IN
KENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITALKENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITAL
PAMOJA SUPPORT GROUPPAMOJA SUPPORT GROUP
LIVERPOOL VCT,CARE & TREATMENTLIVERPOOL VCT,CARE & TREATMENT

2. BACKGROUND PAMOJABACKGROUND PAMOJA
SUPPORT GROUPSUPPORT GROUP
 Started in May 2007Started in May 2007
 Our target group are young people agedOur target group are young people aged
between 15-27 years who are livingbetween 15-27 years who are living
positively.positively.
Overall objectiveOverall objective
 To offer psychosocial support to youngTo offer psychosocial support to young
people living with HIVpeople living with HIV

3. Post Election Violence PhotosPost Election Violence Photos

4. BackgroundBackground
 Announcement of the president Kibaki as theAnnouncement of the president Kibaki as the
president of Kenya for a second term in officepresident of Kenya for a second term in office
prompted a wave of violence and unrest acrossprompted a wave of violence and unrest across
the country.the country.
 Appx. 500,000 were displaced and 1000 killed,Appx. 500,000 were displaced and 1000 killed,
among the displaced were people living with HIVamong the displaced were people living with HIV
(PLWHIV)(PLWHIV)
 To support PLWHIV the Post Test ClubsTo support PLWHIV the Post Test Clubs
members decided to visit the internally displacedmembers decided to visit the internally displaced
persons’ camps and specifically the Jamhuripersons’ camps and specifically the Jamhuri
show ground in Nairobishow ground in Nairobi

5. What is a PTCWhat is a PTC
A PTC is a club for people who have had aA PTC is a club for people who have had a
HIV test regardless of their status. PTCsHIV test regardless of their status. PTCs
are part of a range of post-test services.are part of a range of post-test services.
They provide a combination ofThey provide a combination of
recreational and educational activitiesrecreational and educational activities
including HIV/AIDS awareness. .including HIV/AIDS awareness. .

6. Activities by PTC’s membersActivities by PTC’s members
 Find out how organisations like Kenya Red CrossFind out how organisations like Kenya Red Cross
and IRC can help in dealing with HIV & AIDSand IRC can help in dealing with HIV & AIDS
issues within the campsissues within the camps
 To identify PLWHIV and mobilize them –To identify PLWHIV and mobilize them –
managed to gather 96 PLWHIV/TBmanaged to gather 96 PLWHIV/TB
 Helped in distribution of food with specialHelped in distribution of food with special
attention to those who were living positively.attention to those who were living positively.

7. Activities cont…..Activities cont…..
 To be the voice of PLWHIV in InternallyTo be the voice of PLWHIV in Internally
Displaced People’s camp- did this throughDisplaced People’s camp- did this through
mediamedia
 Hold discussion on sexual behaviours andHold discussion on sexual behaviours and
distributed condomsdistributed condoms
 Defaulter tracingDefaulter tracing
 Give support and encouragement to PLWHIVGive support and encouragement to PLWHIV

8. Activities cont…..Activities cont…..
 Helped some PLWHIV who didn’t haveHelped some PLWHIV who didn’t have
access in collecting the Antiretroviralaccess in collecting the Antiretroviral
drugs for themdrugs for them
 Volunteering in the IDP camp kitchenVolunteering in the IDP camp kitchen
 To provide a link between the PLWHIVTo provide a link between the PLWHIV
and the health facility e.g. MSF-Belgiumand the health facility e.g. MSF-Belgium
took drugs to Jamhuri and set up atook drugs to Jamhuri and set up a
medical campmedical camp

9. Issues of concernIssues of concern
 Stigmatization- PLWHIV were forced to discloseStigmatization- PLWHIV were forced to disclose
their status and display their drugs and cards fortheir status and display their drugs and cards for
them to get assistancethem to get assistance
 Health issues- due to poor conditions someHealth issues- due to poor conditions some
developed new infections which made them todeveloped new infections which made them to
disclose their statusdisclose their status
 Adherence- some PLWHIV would take two drugsAdherence- some PLWHIV would take two drugs
instead of five so as to take them for a longerinstead of five so as to take them for a longer
time.time.

10. Issues of concern cont….Issues of concern cont….
 Treatment illiteracy- some PLWHIV didn’tTreatment illiteracy- some PLWHIV didn’t
know their treatment regime nether theirknow their treatment regime nether their
health care provider thus challenging tohealth care provider thus challenging to
referrefer
 No drugs- left the drugs when fleeing forNo drugs- left the drugs when fleeing for
safetysafety
 No balanced diet- thus being difficult toNo balanced diet- thus being difficult to
take the drugstake the drugs

11. ChallengesChallenges
 Lack of clear channels for communicationLack of clear channels for communication
 There was a lot of stigma and discriminationThere was a lot of stigma and discrimination
among PLWHIVamong PLWHIV
 Some PLWHIV were still on denial stagesSome PLWHIV were still on denial stages
 Lack of information and empowerment amongLack of information and empowerment among
PLWHIV in IDP campsPLWHIV in IDP camps
 Ignorance from service providersIgnorance from service providers

12. Challenges cont..Challenges cont..
 Adherence- nutrition was an issue in theAdherence- nutrition was an issue in the
IDP campIDP camp
 Unprotected sexual activities causedUnprotected sexual activities caused
re-infections and new infectionsre-infections and new infections
 Ignorance from PLWHIV in IDP campsIgnorance from PLWHIV in IDP camps
since they didn’t know their treatmentsince they didn’t know their treatment
regimeregime
 Bureaucracy.Bureaucracy.

13. Key achievementsKey achievements
 PTC members empowered the PLWHIV inPTC members empowered the PLWHIV in
the IDP campthe IDP camp
 Creation of a PTC for 12 members livingCreation of a PTC for 12 members living
with the virus in the IDP campwith the virus in the IDP camp
 Provision of psychosocial supportProvision of psychosocial support
 Provision of a link between the healthProvision of a link between the health
facility and the PLWHIVfacility and the PLWHIV
 Voices of PLWHIV in the IDP camp wasVoices of PLWHIV in the IDP camp was
heardheard

14. Lesson learntLesson learnt
 Many of the PLWHIV IDPs lacked basicMany of the PLWHIV IDPs lacked basic
information on treatment regimes or where toinformation on treatment regimes or where to
get the drugsget the drugs
 PTC's should be un-political and neutral- co-PTC's should be un-political and neutral- co-
existence must be possible as it is HIV & AIDSexistence must be possible as it is HIV & AIDS
which is the binding factorwhich is the binding factor

15. Lesson learnt Cont..Lesson learnt Cont..
 Referrals and defaulter tracing are a weakReferrals and defaulter tracing are a weak
link, people need to be referred to PTC'slink, people need to be referred to PTC's
when they visit health facilitieswhen they visit health facilities
 HIV/AIDS supporting organizationsHIV/AIDS supporting organizations
require preparedness to deal withrequire preparedness to deal with
emergency situations adequatelyemergency situations adequately

16. RecommendationsRecommendations
 PTC's should be encouraged as a tool for stigmaPTC's should be encouraged as a tool for stigma
reduction in the community (Greaterreduction in the community (Greater
Involvement of PLWHIV)Involvement of PLWHIV)
 Strengthening of grassroots PTC's in terms ofStrengthening of grassroots PTC's in terms of
capacity building to enhance the link betweencapacity building to enhance the link between
service providers and clients in times of crisis.service providers and clients in times of crisis.
 Scaling up of sensitization efforts to correctScaling up of sensitization efforts to correct
myths and misconceptions that cause stigma andmyths and misconceptions that cause stigma and
discriminationdiscrimination

17. LETS JOIN HANDS ANDLETS JOIN HANDS AND
FIGHT STIGMAFIGHT STIGMA
Tel no: +254 724 008 490Tel no: +254 724 008 490
Email address: dnowino@yahoo.co.ukEmail address: dnowino@yahoo.co.uk
THANK YOUTHANK YOU