Vijana Against HIV/AIDs and Drug Abuse

01/12/2020

MESSAGE BY HER EXCELLENCY MARGARET KENYATTA, FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, TO COMMEMORATE WORLD AIDS DAY ON 1ST DECEMBER 2020.

This day is set aside to raise awareness of the HIV pandemic.

It calls on us to unite and reaffirm our commitment to stop new HIV infections, support those infected and affected by HIV, and remember those who have lost their lives due to AIDS.

Thirty two years since World AIDS Day was first dedicated towards awareness and global solidarity in the AIDS response, the importance of this day reminds us that we still have not won the war.

This year’s theme emphasizes Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility. It calls on us to come together as a community to scale up our efforts towards ending HIV, protecting people living with AIDS and shielding those who are most at risk.

We are reminded that our efforts will continue to be challenged because of the changing health landscape, especially this year, when the whole world’s attention has been focused on the COVID 19 pandemic.

This pandemic has heightened our attention towards the vulnerability of the human race. It has challenged our realization of the delicate complexity of our health systems and it has reminded us that we must remain resilient.

Kenya’s HIV prevalence rates over the years have come down considerably to less than 4.5%; this shows a positive trajectory that has required both individual and collective effort.

Our efforts have won us recognition on issues concerning protection of women and children and promotion of equal opportunities towards their health and development. Our efforts must not be eroded; our gains must continue towards the global end to HIV.

There is critical need for increased awareness and resources for prevention and treatment of HIV especially amongst our youth, and more work to protect people living with AIDS from stigma and discrimination.

Through Beyond Zero, I committed to support Government efforts towards achieving our national targets to heed the global call towards ending HIV.

I strongly advocate for zero new infections and zero mother to child transmission of HIV. I continue to encourage mothers to attend at least four antenatal checks where they can receive free testing. For seropositive mothers, please attend post-natal clinics and adhere to the prescribed anti-retroviral treatment protocol.

I congratulate all county government efforts towards increased investment and resources to fight this virus through their Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Business Plans; these are critical vehicles for target setting and tracking.

I urge for more collaboration, resource allocation and support through partnerships with national and international partners to scale up and expand access to prevent the spread of HIV for our mothers, our children and our youth.

I applaud the work of our community health worker for their tireless work and dedication to ensure that pregnant mothers in their community deliver their babies in a health facility and receive proper health care.

I am confident that together, we can achieve our national prevalence target of 0% through our collective actions.

MARGARET KENYATTA,
FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA

26/06/2020

[9:54 AM, 6/26/2020]: Hi there,

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Jun 26, 2020 10:00 AM Nairobi
Topic: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2020

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VHb09w5tTNWYU3FRPQsmzw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
[9:55 AM, 6/26/2020] alice: Mental Health is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2020
Time: Jun 26, 2020 10:00 AM Nairobi

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 871 0870 4106
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[9:56 AM, 6/26/2020] alice: 1. Does an addictive personality exist?
2. What are the key ingredients for a successful recovery from drug and alcohol use?
3. How can parents prevent children from getting into drugs and alcohol abuse during this pandemic?
• What possible interventions would be effective in such cases
4. Why do people with substance use disorders (most of them) relapse?
• Is it a sign of failure?
5. Is addiction a disease or a moral failing?

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2020. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

31/05/2020

According to World Health Organization, To***co kills more than 8 million people globally every year. More than 7 million of these deaths are from direct to***co use and around 1.2 million are due to non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.

To***co smoking is a known risk factor for many respiratory infections and increases the severity of respiratory diseases. A review of studies by public health experts convened by WHO on 29 April 2020 found that smokers are more likely to develop severe disease with COVID-19, compared to non-smokers.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease that primarily attacks the lungs. Smoking impairs lung function making it harder for the body to fight off coronaviruses and other diseases. To***co is also a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease and diabetes which put people with these conditions at higher risk for developing severe illness when affected by COVID-19. Available research suggests that smokers are at higher risk of developing severe disease and death. ***coDay2020

08/10/2019

Eliud Kipchoge wants to inspire everyone to take the brakes off in their heads and believe the impossible is possible.

On October 12th Eliud wants to break the last barrier in modern athletics the Sub 2-hour marathon and inspire others to believe they can overcome their own personal barriers. He believes that . Who sets the limits anyway?
1:59

09/09/2019

24/07/2019

Not only is HIV-related discrimination a human rights violation, but it is also necessary to address such discrimination and stigma in order to achieve public health goals such as Universal Health Coverage and overcome the epidemic.

24/07/2019

BORROWED & EDITED

A LETTER TO KENYAN GRADUATES FROM A CEO

Whether you got first class, second class, pass, whether you studied law, software engineering, production, chemical, actuarial, education... THERE ARE NO JOBS.

The first thing you need to do as a graduate is to separate yourself from that sense of entitlement, that thinking that you deserve the best because you worked hard in school. Life out there is different.

Secondly as a graduate, for a moment don't be fixated on what you studied, most people are employed in fields that they did not study, they end up doing well and pursuing it as a career. I studied BA in Sociology and Linguistics in my Undergraduate and would probably be a senior Administrator in the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of Government by now. But I got a kibarua at the Nation Media Group as a Marketing Assistant three months after leaving KU. I did the job so well that after completing the three months contract the bosses wanted to retain me. There was an opening at the Editorial Department and I was interviewed for it. I made it and ended doing Nine Years at the NMG and honing my skills as a journalist. You won't always get a job in the field you trained in.

Third, when you graduate don't limit yourself to the big companies you read in the newspaper because everyone is applying there and they can't absorb every graduate.

Trying your luck in the so called funny, small organizations that are down town could see you a manager in two years, unlike being an intern at PWC, KEMRI or those so called blue chip companies.

Fourth, getting regret or no response does not mean you stop applying. I know someone who made more than 1000 applications over a period of one year before they got their first job "Intern" then retained in the same organization.

Fifth, the attitude you display when doing your first job will determine your growth. At a car wash, you may strike a conversation with a CEO of a company, as a waiter, as a cleaner.

I know of a friend who picked a messengers job in Unga Limited, today he is a senior manager in production right from the other managers sending him to buy Mandazi, and one day they asked what he studied.

When you are in sales, you could be selling loans, insurance, utensils to your next employer. The concept of getting such a job is to get you out of the house, interact with people and connect you to the next level.

Sitting in the house as a graduate will not change your life, complaining on Twitter will not bring a job. Sending 1, 2, 20 applications is not enough until you get an opportunity.
If you find a company or someone willing to absorb you as an intern even if you have a masters take it, that 3 months on job training can change your life.

Going for a masters in the same field you studied that has made you jobless is a mistake, employers start seeing you overqualified for junior position and unqualified for senior position because you don't have work experience.

Getting a job before masters opens your mind beyond textbook knowledge and you start seeing which careers you can pursue that suit your experience.

Finally, all you need is a job (employed or self-employed) to enable get money to print your CV, buy nice clothes for the next interviews to your dream job.

- Mwenda Thuranira

22/07/2019

Anxiety and fear about your status is completely normal. The test only takes a few minutes and it is the only way of knowing ones status.

26/06/2019

.Health4Justice

26/06/2019

Let's stand in solidarity with those who suffer from substance Use Disorders.