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The Hope Center for Infectious Diseases
Nairobi, Kenya
The Hope Center offers the following services:
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| The Hope Clinic
in Nairobi |
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Voluntary Counseling and Testing
Counselors are trained to give counseling
and rapid testing to individuals who wish
to know their HIV status. Visitors receive
thorough pre- and post-test counseling
and can be referred to the Hope Center
for further follow up and care. Special
emphasis is placed on educating clients
to prevent the spread of HIV. |
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General and Adherence Counseling
Five counselors offer general and adherence
counseling to clients attending the clinic.
General counseling gives emotional support
to those suffering from stigmatization
associated with AIDS. Clients who begin
antiretroviral therapy undergo three counseling
sessions exclusively dedicated to issues
surrounding medication adherence. These
sessions describe the life-long commitment
needed to take antiretroviral medications
and the problems that arise from not taking
the drugs properly. |
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| U.S. Ambassador
to Kenya Bellamy and Kenyan Vice
President Awori Moody at the inauguration
of the Hope Clinic |
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Social Work
The social worker assesses the financial
and social needs of our clients and tries
to identify those who need the most help.
If needed, the social worker will conduct
home visits and check on clients who are
home-bound. We recognize the necessity
for our clients to develop a support network.
Therefore, the social worker and the counselors
lead a post-test club, the Unity Social
Club, which meets on Saturdays at the Hope
Center. Here our positive members share
and learn from the experiences of their
peers. |
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| Tim Costello and
Ken Bothman at the Hope Center Inauguration |
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Nutritionist
The nutritionist analyzes the dietary needs
of each patient undergoing antiretroviral
therapy and prescribes an affordable and
well-balanced meal plan that is consistent
with any dietary restrictions related to
their therapy. Nutritional counseling also
discusses the benefits of supplements and
vitamins, and offers to help those who
are malnourished and underfed.
Clinic
The clinical services are offered through
an expert panel of 10 clinical officers,
resident doctors and visiting consultants
who regularly rotate through the clinic.
All have been trained and certified in
the treatment and management of HIV/AIDS
and other infectious diseases. Clinicians
offer basic care, preventive services,
treatment of opportunistic illnesses and
antiretroviral therapy.
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Pharmacy
The pharmacy distributes drugs and monitors
patients and their adherence to medications.
The pharmacist also manages the HAART protocol,
a system developed at the University of
Washington to increase adherence to antiretroviral
medications. The HAART protocol requires
each patient to receive counseling, social
work and nutritional advice prior to commencement
of antiretroviral therapy. The pharmacist
confirms that every client has completed
the HAART protocol before initiating therapy.
Our pharmacy is stocked with first and
second-line antiretroviral regimens and
drugs to prevent opportunistic infections,
courtesy of the Government of Kenya (NASCOP)
and PEPFAR (CDC). |
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| Ken Bothman, Michael
Chung, and Tim Costello with a check
from donors |
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Training Center and Library
Hope Center is equipped with a conference
room and library to train clinicians, nurses,
counselors and administrators in the management
and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other infectious
diseases. The library is equipped with
internet access, online articles, book
and journals and will soon develop a computer
training lab with direct internet connection.
Coptic Hospital and the University of Washington
are deeply committed to establishing a
quality training center that taps into
the UniversityÕs wealth of professional
academic knowledge.
Slum Doctor Programme made a generous contribution
for the purchase of medical and infectious
disease reference books for the library. |
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