 Introduction
Kenyatta University HIV/AIDS Control Unit (ACU) is one of the major interventions developed as a response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the institution. The K.U Aids Control Unit falls under the ACU of the Ministry of Education through the Commission for Higher Education’s ACU, which coordinate ACU activities among the universities.
Under ACU is the KUSACO (Kenyatta University Students’ Aids Control Organization) A membership student organization dealing with HIV/AIDS activities among the students
Mission
The ACU is committed to the formulation and promotion of programmes and activities for the prevention and management of HIV/AIDS within the University and its neighbouring community.
Objectives
- To facilitate peer education and life skill training aimed at appropriate behaviour change, practices and positive living
- To sensitise the community on HIV/AIDS issues
- To facilitate the offering of Voluntary Counselling and Testing services (VCT)
- To formulate HIV and AIDS policies with respect to students and staff
- To sensitise and advice Senate, students and staff on various aspects of the HIV/AIDS policy
- To forge linkages with other stakeholders in the prevention and management of HIV/AIDS
- To facilitate and consolidate care and support services to the infected and affected
- To raise funds for HIV/AIDS prevention and management programmes at the University
- To facilitate research and publication in the area of HIV/AIDS
- To facilitate the mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS into the curricular
- To act as a resource centre for HIV/AIDS teaching, learning and research materials.
- To facilitate information sharing activities on issues related to HIV/AIDS
- To promote formation of HIV/AIDS organizations and support groups
Activities at the ACU by KUSACO, ICL and the Journey.
- Peer education, life skills and leadership training, through I Choose Life and The Journey
- Peer counselling
- Outreach training programme to neighbouring community
- Behaviour change communication groups
- Annual HIV testing week, Culture week VCT and exhibition
- Support group for people living with HIV on campus
- Operate a Resource Centre
- Mobilization and distribution of behaviour change materials
- Proposal development
- Research
ACU partners with I Choose Life-Africa (ICL) which is a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) in Kenya that plays a leading role in prevention of new STIs, Provision of care and support services and mitigation of socio-economic impact of HIV and AIDS among youth in schools and out of schools.
- Specifically, ICL works towards achieving the following objectives
- Improving HIV/AIDS related knowledge
- Delaying Sexual debut
- Decreasing the number of sexual partners per individual
- Increasing condom use among sexually active students
- Increasing VCT uptake
- Decreasing stigmatization amongst people living with HIV/AIDS
- Strengthening HIV/AIDS policy development and implementation with student participation.
Who can be part of the ICL?
ICL trains peer educator where Interested students from at least all schools in the University;
- Go through interview by ICL peer educators
- Successful candidates become members of ICL and have to undergo 32 hours of training in Peer Education on Sexuality and HIV/AIDS and life skills course designed to empower them towards effective decision making.
- After the training, the peer educators enroll in a 3 months community service attachment program
- Graduation and issuing of certificates.
For More info and Registration with ICL and KUSACO, Contact;
Dennis Kioko-0714688940
ACU also partners with ‘The Journey’
The Journey activities run throughout the week and has various platforms of interaction crowned with the Friday Journey experience.
The Journey also organizes occasional special events that include [But not limited to];
- One annual arts festival – ‘Journey awards’
- One annual film festival,
- Adventure camps and
- Community service ventures.
Who can be part of the Journey?
All. Everyone is welcome!!!
All you need is a skill and talent.
The Journey experience is run by various departments; the band, media and publicity, décor, hospitality, sound, and administration. Therefore if you are a talented musician [can play an instrument or sing well], graphic or interior designer [décor], video editor, administrator or you just have a warm heart for people, The Journey will aim to provide the opportunity for you to live out your gifting and grow.
Register at the info desk during the Journey event or send your details specifying your area of interest to the following contacts;
Contact persons; Eric 0736173727 -
Alex 0721575278 –
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
ACU/ ICL/JOURNEY /KUSACO Activities just concluded;
- ASCENT Leadership Training Graduation for 65 students who underwent a semester long experiential training on 17th November 2010
- Team Building for 55 students undergoing the ASCENT Leadership Training by the Journey held at the Hell’s Gate National Park on 6th November 2010
- ICL Peer Educators Graduation for more than 60 students held on 13th November 2010
- Exhibition and HIV testing during the Culture Week, from 24th to 30th October 2010
- Outreach Activities to Kitui Campus on 23rd October 2010
Upcoming Activities include;
- World AIDS Day Celebrations on 1st of December 2010
- Seminar for Institution Based Programme Students on 7th December 2010
- 2 day VCT for the IBP students on 7th and 8th December 2010
Other exciting weekly activities that will be coming soon include;
- The Journey ATLAS,
- Wednesday night live [WNL], and
- Uprising
- Journey life groups [LGs]
VCT services are provided at Ghana IV., Mobile VCT provided by LVCT and HOPE World Wide during various University Activities e.g. Culture Week and The Annual HIV Testing Week.
For more information Contact:
The Director
AIDS Control Unit
Nigeria Street, Hse. No. 7
P.O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel. 8711622/8712722/8710901 -12
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Last Updated on Monday, 29 November 2010 09:09 |
Introduction
