RESPITE CARE FOR 100 HIV+ CHILDREN IN NAIROBI

Dear Valued Donors,

We are thrilled to share the latest progress from Nyumbani’s Respite Care Program, where your generous support continues to transform the lives of vulnerable children living with HIV. Over the past quarter, our dedicated team provided comprehensive care to 109 clients, children within Nyumbani Home respite centre and Nyumbani Village. All children are consistently undergoing vital medical reviews, ensuring their health is closely monitored. This quarter, we have focused on not only maintaining but significantly improving the well-being of the children, addressing critical health issues like malnutrition and opportunistic infections that often complicate HIV management. The commitment to consistent ARV treatment remains a cornerstone of our care, with 81 children on first-line and 30 children on second-line therapies, reflecting our adaptive and individualised approach to their needs.

The tangible impact of your contributions is perhaps best illustrated by stories like Dylan’s, a remarkable 11-year-old boy who arrived at our respite care centre after enduring unimaginable hardship. Having lost both parents at a young age, Dylan faced severe neglect, hunger, and stigmatisation from relatives who saw his HIV-positive status as a burden. He arrived severely malnourished (weighing only 20kg at 11 years old), with sunken eyes, skin infections, a persistent cough, low self-esteem, a low CD4 count, and a high viral load. Thanks to the swift action of the children’s department and the compassionate care at Nyumbani, Dylan was welcomed into a safe and loving environment. Our medical team immediately provided nutritional support, restarted his ARV treatment and Vitamin D supplements, and addressed his other health issues. In just three weeks, Dylan’s transformation has been incredible: he gained 6 kg, his skin condition improved, his cough stopped, and he is now happily taking his medication. More profoundly, he has found a sense of belonging, confidence, and rediscovered his potential, his laughter now echoing through our halls.

Dylan’s story is one among many that highlight the crucial role your support plays in ensuring these children not only survive but thrive. Beyond individual successes, our recent medical reports reflect broad improvements across the program. We completed deworming for most of the children, saw positive responses to treatment for various skin problems in 9 clients, and ensured 34 children with upper respiratory tract infections became clinically stable after treatment. Ongoing support is being provided for a range of conditions, including tuberculosis (2 clients), anaemia (4 clients), and malnutrition (6 clients), all receiving specialised care and nutritional support. Your generosity also extends to ensuring consistent medical attention for complex cases such as those with cerebral palsy, convulsive disorders, and diabetes. The profound positive changes in the children’s health and well-being are a direct result of your compassion. We are truly grateful for your partnership in providing this life-saving respite and comprehensive care.