Category: Uncategorized

As our world becomes more accepting of broader and more diverse identities, you may have questions about how you can better support the LGBTQ+ community, or what LGBTQ+ even stands for. Every person has their own journey in understanding what it means to support LGBTQ+ people, whether you’re LGBTQ+ or not.
An ally is someone who stands up for, supports and encourages the people around them. It’s a term that gets used a lot in the LGBTQIA+ community. In this case it refers to someone who is heterosexual or cisgender, but who tries to make the world a better place for people who identify as LGBTQIA+.
Being an ally means:

-Support equal rights for everyone – regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender or religion.
-Do what you can to call out discrimination and to fight for equality
-Try to make the world a better place for anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+.
-Be a listener.
-Be open-minded.
-Be willing to talk.
-Be inclusive and invite LGBTQ+ friends to hang out with your friends and family.
-Don’t assume that all your friends and co-workers are straight. Someone close to you could be looking for support in their coming-out process. Not making assumptions will give them the space they need.
-Anti-LGBTQ comments and jokes are harmful. Let your friends, family and co-workers know that you find them offensive.
-Confront your own prejudices and bias, even if it is uncomfortable to do so.
-Defend your LGBTQ+ friends against discrimination

-Believe that all people, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation, should be treated with dignity and respect.

When society continues to oppress a group, it does not only perpetuate hate externally, but also internally, as individuals internalize discrimination and self-loathe

#BreakTheCycleOfViolence

#ProtectQueerLives

“A fresh start, a new chapter in life waiting to be written, new questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this transformative year of delight and self-discovery.”

Dear all, this is to inform you that we have officially rebranded.

CONTACT US:

FACEBOOK ACC: Amkeni Ogn

FACEBOOK PAGE: @Amkeni Org

TWITTER: @Amkeni Org

TIKTOK: Amkeni Org

INSTAGRAM: Amkeni Org

WHATSAPP: +254778200115

OFFICE CELL: +254707073067

#newbeginnings

#freshstart

We have officially opened and ready to serve our people.
Opening hours 9:00am-5:00pm
Contact us via +254798511588
Whatsapp +254778200115

Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). The herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes genital herpes. Genital herpes can often be spread by skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity.

Some people infected with the virus may have very mild symptoms or no symptoms. They can still able to spread the virus. Other people have pain, itching and sores around the genitals, anus or mouth.

There is no cure for genital herpes. Symptoms often show up again after the first outbreak. Medicine can ease symptoms. It also lowers the risk of infecting others. Condoms can help prevent the spread of a genital herpes infection.

Symptoms

Genital herpes blisters on a penis

Genital herpesOpen pop-up dialog box

Most people infected with HSV don’t know they have it. They may have no symptoms or have very mild symptoms.

Symptoms start about 2 to 12 days after exposure to the virus. They may include:

Pain or itching around the genitals

Small bumps or blisters around the genitals, anus or mouth

Painful ulcers that form when blisters rupture and ooze or bleed

Scabs that form as the ulcers heal

Painful urination

Discharge from the urethra, the tube that releases urine from the body

Discharge from the vagina

During the first outbreak, you may commonly have flu-like symptoms such as:

Fever

Headache

Body aches

Swollen lymph nodes in the groin

Differences in symptom location

Sores appear where the infection enters the body. You can spread the infection by touching a sore and then rubbing or scratching another area of your body. That includes your fingers or eyes.

Sore can develop on or in the:

Buttocks

Thighs

Rectum

Anus

Mouth

Urethra

Vulva

Vagina

Cervix

Penis

Scrotum

Repeat outbreaks

After the first outbreak of genital herpes, symptoms often appear again. These are called recurrent outbreaks or recurrent episodes.

How often recurrent outbreaks happen varies widely. You’ll usually have the most outbreaks the first year after infection. They may appear less often over time. Your symptoms during recurrent outbreaks usually don’t last as long and aren’t as severe as the first.

You may have warning signs a few hours or days before a new outbreak starts. These are called prodromal symptoms. They include:

Genital pain

Tingling or shooting pain in the legs, hips or buttocks

When to see a doctor

If you suspect you have genital herpes, or any other STI, see your health care provider.

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Causes

Genital herpes is caused by two types of herpes simplex virus. These types include herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). People with HSV infections can pass along the virus even when they have no visible symptoms.

HSV-2

HSV-2 is the most common cause of genital herpes. The virus can be present:

On blisters and ulcers or the fluid from ulcers

The moist lining or fluids of the mouth

The moist lining or fluids of the vagina or rectum

The virus moves from one person to another during sexual activity.

HSV-1

HSV-1 is a version of the virus that causes cold sores or fever blisters. People may be exposed to HSV-1 as children due to close skin-to-skin contact with someone infected.

A person with HSV-1 in tissues of the mouth can pass the virus to the genitals of a sexual partner during oral sex. The newly caught infection is a genital herpes infection.

Recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes caused by HSV-1 are often less frequent than outbreaks caused by HSV-2.

Neither HSV-1 nor HSV-2 survives well at room temperature. So the virus is not likely to spread through surfaces, such as a faucet handle or a towel. But kissing or sharing a drinking glass or silverware might spread the virus.

Jamhuri Day (Republic Day) is a national holiday in Kenya, celebrated on 12 December each year.[1] Jamhuri is the Swahili word for “republic” and the holiday is meant to officially mark the date when Kenya became a republic on 12 December 1964, one year and six months after gaining internal self-rule on 1 June 1963 (Madaraka Day) from the United Kingdom.

Last week we conducted a 2 day i-monitor training in Tana-River county. The target population included the KPs (MSM, FSW and PWID). The goal of the training was to equip the Peer Educators and Outreach workers on monitoring the activities in facilities . The participants were taken through the process of i-monitor from the installation to registration through facilitation and discussion. Participants were also in a position to give recommendations, some of them were to own smart phones, continuous improvement through frequent practices etc.

As AMKENI enters to strategic plan 2018-2020, the future has a mixture of optimism and caution—optimism because of past success and the opportunities the future can hold and; caution because of the enormous uncertainties of LGBTI in our country. Charting a course into this future requires the organization to establish strategic directions and plans that can ensure success in promoting quality and healthy living among sexual minorities.

Over the years, AMKENI has grown from men who have sex with men’ Youth support group (2009) to a LGBTI organization in Malindi -North Coast of Kenya. We grew tremendously in numbers and range ofservices offered to LGBTI Members in Kilifi County. This was culminated by collaboration with Red Cross- Kenya to establish a DICE in 2017 and UHAI in (2017) development of this strategic plan 2018-2020.

Against this background of success, internal and external conditions require AMKENI not rest on its laurels, but explore its future opportunities and possibilities built on the core values anchored in this strategic plan.

In addition, I would like to take this opportunity to thank: Board, staff, Peer educators, and members for establishing and making AMKENI-“a great pride for all of us”; GALCK and community organizations; KEMRI for hosting and capacity building us over the years; Kenya Red cross Society through Global Fund for technical, and financial support in our health programs and DICE that we all call home. Many thanks to UHAI EASHRI for financial and technical support in drafting of this strategic plan; the county government of Kilifi ( Malindi Sub County , CASCO) who have always been there to help us meet our health needs in SRH/HIV. Lastly, to our implementing partners whom the list is endless for collaborating with us in delivering quality health services for our members.

I look forward to seeing what this bright future holds for us as we walk through the journey.

Yours Truly,
Abdulwahid Hassan
Director, AMKENI