HIV and Rusinga

Though Rusinga Island has been dubbed by many visitors as “one of the most beautiful places on Earth”, there is something dark and ugly invading the lives of its citizens. This “something” is the minuscule Human Immunodeficiency Virus. With infection rates hovering around 40%, HIV related deaths on Rusinga have become commonplace.

Nowhere is HIV more prevalent than among those who populate the fishing villages that skirt the island. In fact, many elements of the culture that has developed within these settlements make individuals more vulnerable to contracting HIV. The men who engage in fishing often spend prolonged periods of time on Lake Victoria, at nearby beaches and sometimes as far away as the Ugandan shore. During this time, these men often engage in promiscuous relations with various women. Meanwhile, the fishermen’s wives and children remain on Rusinga, and with few economic opportunities, the women frequently resort to prostitution as a means of sustaining their families. These loose sexual relations facilitate the rapid spread of HIV.

In light of these statistics and cultural norms, the attitude of the citizens of Rusinga Island towards HIV has become one of hopelessness. At a recent forum where volunteers disseminated information about the risks of HIV/AIDS, one woman bluntly responded, “I really appreciate your intentions, but I’m afraid you’re too late for me. I can’t stop what I’m doing [taking money for sex]. If I do, my children and I will not eat. This is just how we live.”

The outlook becomes increasingly more dismal when one inspects the attitudes and views of those who have been diagnosed as HIV positive. With the stigma attached to the disease, many victims choose not to inform those closest to them, thus denying themselves of the valuable support network found in their friends and family. Many of these individuals also deny themselves the anti-retroviral medication made readily available by foreign aid organizations through the Kenyan government. Without psychological support or medication, these individuals stand little chance of survival. However, we at Lakeside Baptist Church and Development Center are convinced that life on Rusinga doesn’t have to be characterized by stigma and inevitability. Through various mediums including education, sports, and home based HIV testing and care, we are confronting what could be referred to as “the ugliest part of Rusinga Island”.