PEPFAR Supports Interventions Transforming Livelihoods in Busia County

When Wilson started his career as a fisherman and fishmonger in Samia, a subcounty in Busia County, two decades ago, the area was notorious for ‘fish for sex’ transactions.

Fisherfolk would engage in sex mainly in exchange for fish or cash. It seemed to be the norm and there seemed to be little concern for sexually-transmitted infections including HIV.

It did not take long for the danger to manifest. The pandemic struck and Bumbe Beach--apart from its fame for good fish--became a hotspot of HIV infections.

“We started burying friends and beloved ones and slowly the reality started trickling in that something had to be done,” Wilson recalls.

“I had watched a close relative succumb to the disease,” he recalls. He chose to take action.

Support from PEPFAR, through national and county government partners, came in handy. The organization supported a host of health interventions mainly related to HIV and tuberculosis (TB).

As a peer educator, he benefitted from a raft of trainings that empowered him to take a lead role in educating others, especially on responsible sexual behavior.

As a result, the area is no longer a hotspot that harbors infections as a result of transactional sex.

“Thanks to PEPFAR, through implementing partners including USAID Dumisha Afya, Bumbe Beach is no longer a hotspot. Our beloved ones no longer succumb to HIV/AIDS,” he notes. AMPATH partner Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital is the implementing partner for USAID Dumisha Afya in Busia and Bungoma Counties in western Kenya.

Today, the area is not just home for big, tasty fish such as the Nile perch, but also empowerment. “I lead a team of peer educators at the beach to sensitize fellow fishermen on responsible sexual behavior,” Wilson said.

With support from PEPFAR through local partners, the team is able to access relevant information through trainings and share the knowledge with others.

They link people living with HIV with USAID Dumisha Afya to ensure they not only get treatment, but also support as required.

USAID Dumisha has served over 20,000 fisher folks in Busia County since October 2021. The program creates demand for HIV prevention, provides referral to health facilities, shares behavior change communication, and provides linkage to microfinance institutions for economic empowerment.