HIV programming

overview

Jinsiangu Kenya’s HIV program has been a critical part of the organization's work, addressing the specific needs of transgender and gender-diverse persons in Kenya.

The Programme begun as a response to the overwhelming health disparities faced by the transgender community in Kenya.

The Programme adopts a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention and care through biomedical, behavioral, and structural interventions:

  • Biomedical: Offering HIV testing, PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis), and hormone therapy in tandem with HIV care to transgender individuals.

  • Behavioral: Implementing educational programs focused on sexual health and HIV prevention tailored to transgender persons.

  • Structural: Advocating for changes in policies and laws to ensure transgender people have access to HIV care, as well as pushing for decriminalization of transgender identities and sex work.

Objectives

  • Raise status awareness among all transgender and non-binary people.

  • Increase capacity for local health jurisdictions, community-based organizations (CBOs), and advocacy groups to address transgender health needs.

  • Challenge discriminatory laws and policies, advocating for the rights of transgender and gender-diverse persons.

  • Enhance legal participation of transgender and non-binary individuals.

  • Address healthcare disparities and improve access to trans-specific HIV testing, prevention, and treatment services.

  • Promote community engagement in HIV prevention, testing, and care across Kenya.

Challenges in HIV Programming

  • Lack of Accommodative Laws: Existing legal frameworks do not adequately protect transgender and gender-diverse persons, often leaving them marginalized in healthcare, economic, and educational sectors.

  • Stigma and Discrimination: State-wide ignorance, societal discrimination, and systemic stigma remain pervasive, affecting access to care and HIV services for transgender individuals.

  • Limited Resources: The program operates with limited financial and technical resources, making it challenging to address the full range of needs in the transgender community.

  • Community Disenfranchisement: Many transgender individuals remain disengaged from healthcare systems due to previous negative experiences or a lack of trans-specific services.

Progress and Major Achievements

  • Helping transgender individuals secure appropriate legal identification, such as facilitating name changes on legal documents, which is crucial for access to healthcare and reducing discrimination.

  • Jinsiangu has formulated a regional advocacy network to strengthen its fight for transgender rights and inclusion in HIV programming at the national and regional levels.

  • Jinsiangu has been instrumental in the recognition of transgender people as a key population in the national HIV response, helping to shift policy and resource allocation.

  • Jinsiangu has contributed to the development of national guidelines focused on transgender healthcare, which emphasize HIV prevention and treatment for transgender persons.

  • Jinsiangu Kenya remains committed to expanding its HIV programming to ensure no transgender or gender-diverse individual in Kenya is left behind in the fight against HIV. The organization continues to push for policy reforms, increased access to healthcare, and greater community engagement in order to address the ongoing health disparities that affect the transgender community.