A Christian movement in Kikuyu Sub County has come out to help people affected or infected by HIV/Aids in a bid to show them they are accepted in the community.
Speaking today at Faith Restoration Church, the founder and chairman of Today’s Hope Foundation Ephantus Muli said that the initiative was started two years ago to counsel those living with HIV/AIDS.
He explained that the idea came from the church and today, the initiative has stretched to other churches hence working as a team.
The chairman added that over 10 churches in the area are now part of the movement stating that some of the members are also HIV positive while other have full blown Aids.
“We visit hospitals where such people are and we preach hope, show love by feeding them and also pay for their medication,” said Muli.
He added that these acts are driven by the way the society has stigmatised the people in the past.
Muli explained that the movement also educates the society on the importance of showing compassion and acceptance. This, Muli says, has given the PLWHAs have hope and live positively.
Silvia Waithera, one of the volunteers says that PLWHAs should be treated as human beings rather than being neglected.
“It’s obvious that most people think that HIV/Aids is transmitted through sexual intercourse therefore any victim is regarded to have engaged in it to be affected. However, some got infected accidentally and not necessarily through engaging in intercourse,” said Waithera.
Rose Wanjiru, a resident in the area said that these people are not accepted even by their own families. She called on those living with PLWHAs to show them love and acceptance as they are human and have needs just like the rest of the society.