KENYA: Assumption Sisters Celebrate New Professions and Jubilees

THIKA, August 15, 2008 (CISA) -Six nuns belonging to the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi made their final profession as seven others celebrated their silver jubilee at the Uzima Centre in Thika.The celebration to mark the feast of the Assumption of Mary was presided over by Fr Francis Gachinga of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. The newly professed were Veronica Nthenya, Bernadette Muthina, Felister Kirigha, Catherine Kinyua, Glady’s Chepkemoi and Mary Muli.The sisters expressed joy at their profession. Sr Felista Kirigha said, “I am so excited today it is like the heavens have opened for me.”Sr Jane Ndemenge 25 years in religious life said, “It feels great and exciting today to have come all this way, but I owe this to God. Sr Jane, a teacher, is the principle of Madaraka Girls Primary school one of the best school’s in Thika.“By the grace of God I started this journey in January 1980. I made my first commitment on December 27, 1982. I made my final commitment on December 15, 1991. Since that time I have continued to serve the Lord. I have no regrets to make.Other sisters celebrating their jubilees were Bernedette Munyao, Veronica Thiga, Consolata Banda, Anastasia Waithira, Agnes Mwongela and Christine Kagunye.The congregation also launched their first music CD. Assumption Sisters of Nairobi were founded in 1955.

AFRICA: Christian Aid Launches Food Crisis Appeal for Continent

LONDON, August 8, 2008 (CISA) -The UK-based international development agency Christian Aid has launched an emergency appeal to support the millions of people going hungry across Africa in the face of escalating food prices.Most African countries are not self-sufficient in food and are now being hit by massive price hikes so that once cheap imports are unaffordable. In the first three months of this year, all major foodstuffs hit their highest prices in real terms for nearly 30 years, according the World Food Programme (WFP).Ethiopia is facing a potential catastrophe with 126,000 children in immediate danger of death and a further six million at risk of malnutrition, according to the UN. Kenya has seen price hikes of 50 per cent in six months.In Burkina Faso, almost a quarter of children under five are emaciated and half a million people are dependent on WFP handouts. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, families are forced to skip meals."Christian Aid is doing everything we can to help – but we want to do more," says Nick Guttmann, head of Christian Aid’s humanitarian division. "We are urging people in Britain, the churches and religious groups to help us increase our support to those most vulnerable to this crisis."With more cash, we can further develop work with our local African partner agencies, distributing seeds and livestock and helping communities improve their agricultural productivity to reduce their dependence on highly priced imported foods."Christian Aid said the crisis had been caused in part by "ruinous" trade liberalisation policies forced on poor countries by donor nations and international financial institutions.In return for trade and aid, poor countries have had to remove protective tariffs from agricultural produce, leaving markets open to heavily subsidised imports from richer nations, which have driven local producers out of business. Global food price rises have as a result forced up the price of imports.In recent years, there has also been chronic under investment in food production in poorer countries, and a greater emphasis on cash crops such as flowers, tobacco and bio-fuels, whilst climate change and rising fuel prices have pushed up the cost of fertilised, seeds, pump irrigation and other agricultural necessities.Christian Aid said it would work on the ground with those most affected across Africa, as well as continue campaigning for changes to the trading structures that impoverish people, and for governments to address climate change.

KENYA: Church AIDS Programme Heads Agree Infection Rising

NAIROBI, August 5, 2008 (CISA) -Some Catholic officials working in HIV/AIDS programmes have backed government statistics showing that the infection rate is on the rise.The 2008 Kenya Aids Indicator Survey published last week indicated that HIV infection stands at 7.3 percent, up from 6.7 percent in 2003. Some 1.4 million people are living with the virus, 83 per cent of them unaware of their status.The HIV/AIDS coordinator in Homa Bay Diocese in Nyanza Province, Fr Emilio Barrlliana, told CISA that last month they conducted Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) in one village and out of a hundred people tested, 51 of them were positive.The infection rates in Nyanza and Nairobi are the highest at 15.3 percent, according to the government survey.Fr Barrlliana said that so far, there are 3,000 people awaiting treatment with 2,000 already on treatment.In Kitui Diocese in eastern Kenya, Vivian Mlonzia said that the HIV infection rate is on the increase mainly because there is no significant change in individual sexual behaviour. She attributed this to availability of Anti-retrovirals (ARVs) drugs.Carol Wandi, who works with HIV/Aids Programme for Kitale Diocese in western Kenya, also said that the prevalence of the virus was on the rise.The Catholic Church launched a National HIV/AIDS Policy last year.Kenya has climbed down from the list of most successful countries in Africa in controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS, according to the UNAids 2008 report.

KENYA: Veteran Catholic Missionary at the Coast is Buried

MOMBASA August 1, 2008 (CISA) -One of the longest-serving Catholic missionaries here on the Indian Ocean coast, Fr Tom Barron, was buried Friday at the Holy Ghost Cathedral Parish.The 76-year-old Holy Ghost missionary from Ireland died on Friday, July 25, at a home for the aged. He had served the Catholic Church in Mombasa for 46 years.Moments before he passed away, Fr. Barron told Fr. Joachim Minja who anointed him: “Tell the archbishop to take care of the diocese. Thank the people of Mombasa for allowing me to stay here.”The requiem mass was celebrated by Fr Sean McGovern, the local superior of the Holy Ghost Fathers in Kenya, who described his late confrere as “a humble, brave and courageous priest.”Fr Barron was born on November 14, 1931, in Ireland, and was ordained a priest on July 10, 1960. He arrived in the Archdiocese of Mombasa in 1962. He worked in the diocesan administration as a procurator and secretary.From 1973 to 1988, he was the vicar-general and later worked in Utange and Shanzu parishes where he built a house for father in charge and a convent in 1979.In 1984, he worked at Holy Ghost cathedral and in 1989 at Mikindani parish.

KENYA: State Set to Improve Reproductive Health Services

NAIROBI, July 29, 2008 (CISA) -The government will embark on improving reproductive health services around the country, according a new policy which was launched recently.But the policy states that reproductive health rights must be enjoyed “within the context of the law.”Some non-governmental organizations are agitating for inclusion of abortion on demand among reproductive health rights. Abortion is illegal in the country, except in limited circumstances.The priority areas of the new policy are safe motherhood, maternal and neonatal health, sexually transmitted infections and family planning. Other areas are adolescent reproductive health, gender and reproductive rights, infertility and the reproductive health needs of the elderly.The government will ensure that all women, including adolescents and youth, have access to reproductive health information, counseling and other services. It will also ensure that all pregnant women, the poor and the ‘hard-to-reach’ have access to skilled care.Other action points of the new policy include integrating HIV/AIDS information and services into all reproductive health services at all levels, enhancing community awareness on impacts of Reproductive Tract Infections on women and men, encouraging research and information generation and ensuring control of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) prevention and control.The government will also promote and create awareness on the elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against elderly persons and increase availability of quality services for prevention of cancers of the reproductive organs.The new policy provides for ensuring access to rehabilitative services for those affected by harmful practices and gender-based violence and promoting empowerment of women in reproductive health decision-making.During the launch of the document, Dr Josephine Kibaru, Head of the Division for Reproductive Health, said, “Reproductive health is one of the most neglected programmes in country and there is inadequate information on sexual and reproductive health issues.”

KENYA: Marriage Encounter Movement to Mark 30th Birthday

NAIROBI, July 15, 2008 (CISA) -The worldwide Marriage Encounter Movement will next month hold a convention to mark its 30th anniversary in Kenya.The event, from August 8 to 10, will be held at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi.Organisers say the movement will commemorate 30 years of God’s amazing love since its introduction in Kenya by the late archbishop of Nairobi, Cardinal Maurice Otunga.Marriage Encounter assists couples, priests and religious to live out the sacraments of matrimony and holy orders through formation in values.Members take part in special ‘encounter weekends’ and learn through community support and enrichment programmes.The ‘encounter weekends’ encourage communication between spouses to rediscover each other. Spouses focus on their relationship for an entire weekend, from Friday night to Sunday afternoon.Officials say marriage encounter has been introduced in 16 dioceses in Kenya.

KENYA: Sacked HIV-Positive Woman Wins Historic Court Battle

NAIROBI, July 11, 2008 (CISA) -A woman has won nearly USD33,000 HIV-positive.

The 45-year-old widow, a waitress for eight years at Home Park Caterers, got the award in an out of court settlement. She was dismissed on0 USD against her former employer for unfair dismissal after testing medical grounds after her employer established without her knowledge that she had been infected with HIV.

A doctor at a Nairobi hospital tested her without her knowledge and consent and forwarded the medical report to the employer. She told the court that her constitutional right to privacy had been violated. The widow also argued that her right to gainful employment was infringed upon.

However, Home Park defended itself saying that her sacking did not arise from the medical report and that the company had not been aware of any such report when sacking her.

The woman told the court that Dr Primus Ochieng’ of Metropolitan Hospital breached his professional and statutory duty to counsel and disclosed her HIV status to her.

But in his defence, the doctor said that he prepared the medical report upon request and gave it to her personally and that Home Park neither asked him to do the test nor released the results.

The woman narrated in an open court how she suffered stigma at her former workplace.

Her ex-employer, the hospital and the doctor agreed to pay the money to cover and settle any damages in respect of the suit plus all legal costs. The former employer will also pay her terminal dues.