Nairobi County

Chom has been working as a nurse at Ishtar for the past three years and focuses on prevention, screening, testing of STI and other ailments among MSM, as well as providing health education with one-on-one individuals and groups. Chom finds his work of treating and healing very gratifying. For the future, he would like the clinic to offer complete HIV treatment, lab services and PEP, as well as having satellite clinics.

Alvin was first brought to ISHTAR by a peer educator through the clinic’s outreach program in 2014. Before he got to ISHTAR, he was lonely and didn’t know other MSMs, so he was very closeted. While he started as a client in 2014, he became a peer educator in 2015 and a field officer in 2016. As a field officer, he interacts and organizes outreach with management educators. Alvin focuses on health education for clients and refers them to other services. He also identifies areas that are popular for MSM and works with cases on violence.

Alvin is very gratified from his work and finds joy when helping others and giving advice. He says there is a lot of ignorance in the community, so it is rewarding to teach someone something new. Alvin thinks the clinic is successful because of its peer-educator model and the fact that the organization is led by MSM in the community.

Thiesty learned about PrEP from the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCOP) and became eager for more information. He googled the medication, learned more about the medication and began taking it. Some friends have seen him take it and asked for more information, which then gets passed to the community. As a PrEP champion at Ishtar, he educates the community about PrEP, particularly emphasizing that PrEP is not for those who have HIV. Since PrEP was launched, he has mobilized four clients. Some of the challenges about his role are the rumors about the side effects with PrEP. For example, some believe that PrEP prevents individuals from getting pregnant.

Kelly got involved with ISHTAR in September 2013 as a volunteer. He became a receptionist in later that year 2013. Starting in September 2014, he switched to an administration and advocacy role. Kelly focuses and security of MSM by helping with health, finding a safe space, and helping them access justice. In his role, he meets with several clients, documents security incidents, educates patients, and advocates for patients.

Some of the best practices Kelly has found include communication, commitment towards every client, and sharing experiences to help bond the clinic with the community. Kelly emphasizes that ISHTAR is a safe space. Every Friday, everybody comes together and spend time together singing, planning games, dancing, and having community parties.

Amina is a single mother of one. She worked as a mentor for Mentor Mothers for two years, and an HTC counselor for three years after getting a degree in psychology, and as a part-time saloonist. In 2007 Amina tested positive for HIV. However, she was in denial and gave birth to a baby boy who was also HIV positive and passed away.

She found out in 2008 that she had herpes and went to the Embakasi clinic for treatment and also started ART at this time. During this time, she asked questions about getting pregnant while HIV positive and asked how she could have a HIV-negative baby. Amina got pregnant and learned about Mentor Mothers program at the clinic. They encouraged Amina and ensured her that the baby could be healthy. Amina also was introduced to a support group where she saw mothers with HIV-negative kids and was encouraged that she could also have a healthy baby and lead a happy life. Amina had her baby tested for HIV after six weeks, nine months, and 18 months. Her baby’s tests were negative each time. Her child is now seven years old and remains healthy. Amina’s favorite part of being a mother is telling other positive mothers that they too can have an HIV-negative child.

Stella first tested positive for HIV when she was ten and didn’t believe the test results. At 13, she went with her sister to get tested again and once again tested positive. Her sister also did not believe that she was HIV-positive because she did not look sick. When her doctor gave her medication, she threw them back and left. At 15, Stella unsuccessfully attempted suicide three times. When she got pregnant at 17, she went to the clinic and tested positive, where she again did not believe the results. She was put in a support group and given ART, but did not take it. She started taking double doses of medication as an attempt to kill herself. After 2-3 days taking high doses, she got extremely ill and was admitted to the hospital for 2-3 weeks. Luckily, there was no miscarriage. After she was discharged, she went to stay with her sister, who warned her that her baby would also be HIV positive if Stella did not take her medication.

Stella continued coming to the clinic and their support groups, where she received support from service providers who did home visits and counselled her and her sister. She finally accepted her status in 2012 after her baby was born and her life changed. She continued coming to Mentor Mothers was asked to be a peer educator. As a peer educator, she encourages youth and adolescents to get tested. For those who are HIV-positive, she continues to encourage them that their life will go on. She hosts monthly support groups for pediatrics and adolescents. Her favorite part is encouraging them to live a better life. For example, 15 of the adolescent clients she supports have gone back to school and some have gone to college, other clients have been able to discuss their HIV positive status with their families and get support. Stella stresses the importance of supporting PLHIV and reducing stigma. In 3-5 years, she would like to become a nurse.