Who We Are

The organization works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, funding partners and other implementing partners to deliver on its mandate. In Kenya, there has been a decline in the number of new HIV infections nationally "from 75,000 in 2010 to 41,416 in 2019" as noted in the Kenya AIDS Strategic Frame II (KASF II).

However, when looking at the counties, some show an increase in infections (including Kajiado) and others minimal decline (including Nairobi). Additionally, women's vulnerability to HIV remains a matter of concern, as HIV in Kenya "continues to be disproportionately higher among females than males". The KASF II further states that although the number of people living with HIV who have access to treatment has increased, almost 500,000 Kenyans are left out because they are not aware of their status.

To this end, one of the goals is 'to reduce AIDS-related deaths and improve health outcomes'. The focus here will be on "early HIV diagnosis, screening and management of co-morbidities including cervical cancers, TB-HIV co-infection, non-communicable diseases and severe malnutrition, mental health and psychosocial interventions for people living with HIV".

The DREAM Kenya programme contributes towards achievement of this goal. Drug Resource Enhancement against AIDS and Malnutrition (DREAM), an international programme offering treatment and care for people living with HIV and AIDS, has been offering services in Kenya since 2008. The history of DREAM goes back to 2002 when the Community of Sant'Egidio, a Catholic public lay association and NGO, established the first programme in Mozambique. DREAM is currently present in ten African countries.

In 2008, the Community of Sant'Egidio and the Daughters of Charity launched the DREAM programme in Kenya, later to be established as the DREAM Kenya Trust in 2010. Headquartered in Rome, the Community Sant'Egidio provides technical support to the DREAM programme. The Daughters of Charity is an international religious community and works with vulnerable communities with a missionary approach to development. The two institutions complement each other and share a common commitment to seek and reach out to the most marginalised in society, journey with them and offer quality services.