UN Plus starts small in Nairobi Kenya

With the lead of Nais and Jane, the UN+ has started to bear a branch at the Nairobi duty station.  After the March 2006 Amsterdam meeting, Nais and Jane have, in between their normal work, contacted the UN doctor, the UNAIDS Country Coordinator, the UN Learning Team Coordinator and held a number of discussions on the formation of UN+ in Nairobi duty station.  This team has further had a meeting with the RC where leadership support was sought in this initiative.

Nais and Jane are now both members of the Kenya UN Learning Team where they represent the interests of UN+.  They have been approached to contribute to the UN Cares initiative, where all the UN workplace programmes will be brought together.  Apart from this, Jane is a member of both Kenya and Somalia UNLT, a chairperson of staff association, a member of UNICEF Somalia Caring For Us, accesses the One Stop Clinic where she has been able to reach out directly or indirectly to those affected by HIV/AIDS and may be willing to join UN+.  Through this way, three (3) UN+ members have enlisted in the global website, one in Nairobi and two from other countries in the region.

There are around 3,000 UN staff members in Nairobi.  Given the prevalence rate in Kenya, it is expected that a substantial number of staff may be living with HIV.  However, only four are so far talking to one another about it - a fifth has just been approached.  These openly-HIV positive colleagues feel that there is a lot of stigma at this duty station.  Despite the number of learning activities that have been organized by the UN Learning Team, stigma has not been addressed.  It is with this in mind that both Nais and Jane know they have a lot of work ahead of them, and will need a lot of support from all corners.  It is so high that some of the staff members do access treatment without the inclusion of their family members.

Contact persons for Kenya

Jane Sinyei: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Naisiadet Mason: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it