Thika District [Central Province], Kenya had an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in 2002 that was 34% and in 2005 was 13%. The current national HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Kenya of those that have been tested is 4.6%-5.8%. In Thika District however, the current rate is still higher at 8%. Since only 14% of the population in Kenya has been tested and knows their HIV/AIDS status, the HIV/AIDS prevalence is underestimated.
Because of the noticeable impact of HIV/AIDS in this area of Kenya, a medical team from Interlink Ministries in Wooster, Ohio/USA began an HIV/AIDS, abstinence, be faithful‚ pilot program in Thika District. Several members of this team had been providing medical care over a period of five years during short term medical mission trips. One of the team members, Dr. Mark Finneran of Wooster, Ohio had seen too many of his own Kenyan friends die of HIV/AIDS and wanted to do something about it. On Sunday, February 5, 2006, Dr. Finneran, in collaboration with a church in Ruiru, Thika District, launched a prevention program that was eventually named Abstinence, Fidelity and Honor (AFH), International. This HIV/AIDS prevention program was built on the belief that an individuals commitment to abstinence before marriage and fidelity within marriage is the only guaranteed prevention of sexually transmitted HIV/AIDS.
Kathy Ditlevson of Ashland, Ohio, a member of this team, was appointed director of the prevention program as a result of her leadership with Dr. Finneran in launching the initial HIV/AIDS prevention program in Ruiru. Simon Kimaru Njagi, a native of Kenya, immediately agreed to spearhead this HIV/AIDS prevention program in Thika District. Simon Kimaru was chosen because of his strong background and training in medicine, HIV/AIDS, community health care and pastoral care. AFH, International became the newest ministry of Interlink Ministries, Wooster, Ohio.
As Kathy Ditlevson continued to travel to Kenya, she joined with Bruce Wilkinson, Executive Director of Pump House Ministries, Ashland, Ohio to take other teams to Kenya to grow and develop AFH, International. Since Bruce and Kathy share the same passion and vision to help the people in Kenya, they "teamed up" and brought AFH, International under the umbrella of Pump House Ministries where "joining forces" has helped to strengthen this international HIV/AIDS prevention program.
Within two years, over 25,000 people in Kenya have been impacted. Simon Kimaru trained and developed a staff of ten full time and three part time native HIV/AIDS Prevention Specialists. Each week, over 3,200 children are taught HIV/AIDS prevention in schools and after school clubs. Natives of Congo were additionally trained by the Kenya staff, and over 2,600 children are weekly taught prevention information in Congo. Over 1,000 children and adults have played and participated on soccer teams. And grandparents caring for orphans are feeding the children and themselves through our small animal chicken propagation project. The income gained from the sale of eggs and chickens also enables the grandparents to pay for the children's school fees and uniforms so that the children can go to school.
As the organization has grown and developed to meet the needs of those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, individuals are being empowered to overcome the impact of the pandemic in their lives through knowledge, medical care and micro-enterprise. In October, 2008, the international organization was named "Empower International" since it well defines the impact that the organization has had in the lives of many people.
