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With reported cases of infections among faithful, community takes the war to the dreaded disease, writes KIUNDU WAWERU
Until recently, it was taboo for a Muslim to voluntarily go for tests to ascertain his or her HIV/ Aids status.
But Ms Rehema Rashid was one of the first people to buck the trend — at least in the sprawling region.
Rehema is a trailblazer who preaches over hills, plains and valleys that everyone, including Muslims, is at a risk of being infected with HIV.
My Health caught up with the mother of three — who hails from Kwale — in Mombasa last week.
At Msambweni District Hospital, she tested positive. Post-test counsellors advised her to live positively and join a support group.
But she belonged to a religion whose adherents did not believe they could easily contract HIV.
How would she live with her family with this kind of stigma? After many false starts, she joined a support group in Mombasa.
Mr Mahmoud Abdillahi Mahmoud, an HIV and Aids activist, comments on how Muslims viewed the disease in the past.
"We have in the past believed HIV is for sinners but as leaders, we have realised that our people are being infected in silence."
Mahmoud is the secretary-general of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), Mombasa County.
When going to the local Comprehensive Care Centre Units in government hospitals that were then seriously stigmatised, Rehema would wear a face veil that left space for her eyes only.
Rehema joined a support group in 2009, two years after testing positive.
It took this long because of the resistance she got from her family, especially her husband. Since then, he has turned into a strong HIV and Aids activist.
In the meantime, when Muslim leaders realised that their people were being infected with HIV in large numbers, they joined forces with Aids, Population and Health Integrated Assistance (APHIA) Coast in 2009 and implemented a comprehensive HIV prevention programme using faith-based approach straddling four Coast districts.
Ninety Imams, 60 women leaders and 60 Madrassa teachers have since received training.
One of the projects was door-to-door HIV testing and counselling targeting willing couples at Kibokoni, Old Mombasa Town, a Muslim stronghold.
Here CIPK and APHIA Coast met with a formidable challenge.
"We would knock on a door and we would be ushered in but as soon as we stated our mission, doors would be slammed shut on our faces," says Mr Abushir Masoud, the project co-ordinator.
"They would say they were faithful to their spouses and who did we think we were to put a wedge between them?" adds Mwanasiti Juma, a CIPK assistant project co-ordinator.
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