The Tumaini Project:
HAART Grants for Kenyans Living with AIDS
2003
Introduction
Participant Selection
Project Guidelines
Financial Matters
Education
Partnerships
Contact Information
Project Updates
Introduction
In 1999, 180,000 Kenyans died an AIDS-related death and it is estimated that at
least 2.1 million Kenyans will die of AIDS by 2005. While there is no drug to cure
HIV infection, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can successfully treat
AIDS and keep many HIV infected patients alive almost indefinitely. Unfortunately,
the ability to afford AIDS treatment is beyond the reach of most Kenyans. The cost
of treating infected Kenyans with antiretroviral drugs is estimated to be USD 25 billion
or 238 percent of the annual GDP of Kenya. In contrast, the total health care
expenditure in Kenya was 7.8 percent of the GDP in 1998.3 Thus, many HIV
infected Kenyans die without ever receiving treatment.
The Tumaini Project is a mechanism created by physicians at the University of
Washington and the University of Nairobi to assist Kenyans who are dying from
AIDS and are unable to afford treatment. The primary goal of the project is to
provide HAART for Kenyans until antiretroviral therapy becomes universally
available or affordable. The Project assigns grants in the amount of USD 1,000
for each of its participants. One thousand US dollars can provide medical testing,
treatment, and antiretroviral therapy for each participant for approximately one year.
At that time, additional grants will be assigned to continue treatment.
Participant Selection
Persons are asked to participate in the Tumaini Project if they meet the following criteria:
- AIDS - Person are considered for treatment if they present with a clinical illness
consistent with AIDS and their blood tests positive for HIV.
- Economic Status - An assessment of the household economic status is undertaken
at that time to determine whether he or she is able to afford AIDS treatment.
- Adherence - An assessment is performed to determine whether the patient has a
high likelihood of adhering to treatment and attending clinic regularly.
- Residence in Nairobi - Those who are invited to participate are required to
stay in Nairobi for at least 12 months to ensure proper treatment.
- Family - Infected nuclear family members of previously selected
participants are considered in advance of unrelated participants.
Project Guidelines
- The Tumaini Project steering committee is composed of Drs. Michael Chung,
James Kiarie, and Grace John Stewart.
- Grants of USD 1,000 are assigned to each participant on the basis of the above
outlined selection criteria. This sum is allocated to this participant regardless of how
long the grant can be used to treat him or her.
- Funds allocated to a participant are used for HIV medications, prophylaxis and
treatment of AIDS-related illnesses, medical laboratory and radiological testing, and
necessary referrals to physicians outside the Project.
- Funds are only used to diagnose and treat illnesses associated with
AIDS and HIV unless a medical emergency otherwise threatens the life
of the patient.
- Funds are not used to support the patient’s household expenses
unless such circumstances are deemed life-threatening.
- Physicians in the Tumaini Project work voluntarily and do not receive any
remuneration from project funds.
- If a participant reaches the 9th month of HAART therapy or USD 750 of
his/her grant without having received additional funding, the Project will allocate
any donations given at this time to said participant first. No new participants will
be enrolled at this time unless funding permits.
Financial Matters
- Funds for the Tumaini Project reside in a joint Kenyan bank account
opened by Drs. Michael Chung and James Kiarie. The bank account is used
solely to receive and give money associated with the Tumaini Project.
- Copies of bank account statements and expense receipts are freely available
and are sent to donors on a quarterly basis.
- Donations are accepted from both international and domestic sources.
International donors can wire funds directly into the Kenyan bank account.
Education
One goal of the Project is to educate the international community about AIDS and its
impact on people living in Kenya. The Project seeks to personalize the relationship
between donors and recipients and to put a human face on the suffering. After a
participant is given a grant, the individual is asked whether he or she would be willing
to share his or her photo and story with other people. If a participant is willing, then
such material is shared with the community through personal communications and the
web. It is hoped that through glimpses into a life lived with AIDS, others will better
understand the need and the hope they can offer.
If the participant is reluctant to share then no information will be revealed. This
does not affect a participant’s eligibility in the Project in any way. Social stigma
surrounding HIV in Kenya is severe and protection of participants is of the highest
concern.
Partnerships
Tumaini is the Kiswahili word for “hope.” Hope for this project derives primarily
from its international partners. The Tumaini Project’s partners include the Slum
Doctor Programme in Nairobi and the Northwest Coalition for AIDS Treatment
in Africa (NCATA). Both organizations are based in Seattle, Washington.
For updates on the Tumaini Project, visit our
updates page. For more information or to donate contact the Tumaini Project:
mhchung@ratn.org
