EventsFamily Health Day
HEEP Group is a community based organization located in Kitengela whose main objective is to reduce the poverty through creation and provision of an economically empowering framework that equally tackles socio-cultural challenges to increase the probability of success in implementation of programs under the four thematic areas – Health, Environment, Education and Poverty eradication initiatives.
Kitengela Township is a rapidly growing cosmopolitan area. This rapid growth has attracted many people who not only come to invest but also visit the attractive entertainment joints with popular ‘nyama choma’. The main road to Kitengela is about 10KM from the main Mombasa highway. As a result of this, many of the trucks have found the township to be an attractive stop over.
This has proven to be a challenge especially given this scenario and has encouraged and promoted prostitution among Kitengela youths – there being readily available clients with the money! Equally disturbing is the ongoing construction boom – as much as this is an economically viable area, it has come with its challenges. Most of the youths who work in the construction industry are paid wages – on Saturdays. As a result of this, many engage in drunken and promiscuous behaviour since they do have the money.
The above two scenarios have created an ‘enabling environment’ for the spread of hiv among Kitengela residents and more so, the youth.
It is with this background in mind that HEEP Group has organized a family health day on May 16, 2009 at the Kitengela police post grounds with special emphasis on the family unit’s knowledge of their hiv status – this falls under the Health thematic area. We have planned for several entertainment activities to ensure the day is fully of entertainment to attract as many residents as possible. Our target is to create awareness to at least 15,000 residents.