HISTORY OF RIPHEP

RIPHEP was formed in response to the increasing HIV/AIDS  prevalence together with the increasing levels of poverty and illiteracy within the rural population of  Mumias District in Western Province of Kenya e.g. In 2006 when the national HIV/AIDS prevalence rate had dropped to 6.1%,the HIV/AIDS prevalence in this part of Kenya had risen to 8.6% from 8.1% compared to the previous year and this occurred due to lack of knowledge on issues relating to HIV/AIDS prevention within the rural folk together with increased levels of poverty and illiteracy within the community.

So far, RIPHEP has been reaching out to the members of the community especially the youths through seminars, and conferences in schools, colleges, churches, youth groups and clubs. Youth behavior change and need to go for voluntary testing has been top on the agenda as a way of reducing HIV/AIDS spread within this group of the community.

Due to the recent increase in the number of orphans within the community due o increased levels of mortality rate in the adult group secondary to HIV/AIDS, RIPHEP has also been able to capture and educate this group of the community on the need for   prevention and testing as a way of curbing this epidemic. This has been possible through seminars with women groups and also forming the village HIV/AIDS CLUBS, where this people meet and discuss issues related to HIV/AIDS.

Expectant mothers have also not been left out .They have been encouraged to test and know their HIV/AIDS status so as to take the necessary measures that reduce mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS. This is done under our well managed PMTCT programme.

Village education clubs involving illiterate adults have also been formed for them to receive non-formal adult education plus information on HIV/ADS and poverty reduction.

RIPHEP currently depends on local donors who give donations in terms of money, stationery and school items such as uniforms to the poor school going children.

Despite all difficulties due to lack of enough resources to run the programme, our MOTTO still holds;-That we shall remain a pillar of empowerment and hope to the whole population, because we understand that war against desease, poverty and illiteracy requires not only financial resources, sufficient technology, and political commitment, but also a strategy, operational lines of responsibility and the capacity to learn along the way.