The Lea Toto project was initiated in 1998 as a community-based activity where orphaned children as a result of HIV/AIDS could remain with their caregivers in their communities.    Nyumbani recognizing the compounded challenges of poverty and HIV/AIDS in Kenya’s hardest-hit communities and stepped in to help the families and communities heal.

Lea Toto provided services to families with HIV positive children in the main informal settlements of Nairobi and its environs. This activity first received funding from USAID in 1999. Over the years, the program expanded from its first location in Kangemi to cover seven other areas in Nairobi. The main aim was to provide quality medical care, nutritional support and counseling services for over 3,500 HIV positive children on antiretroviral therapy (ART) achieving over 90% viral suppression and served over 15,000 OVCs cumulatively. The capacity of target local communities has also been enhanced to provide care and support to HIV positive children.

Our Reach

Lea Toto, which means “to raise the child” in Swahili, was a vital part of Nyumbani’s mission. Operating eight centers in Nairobi’s neediest neighborhoods of Kangemi, Kawangware, Kibera, Mukuru, Zimmerman, Kariobangi, Dandora, and Dagoretti, the program served over 3,500 HIV-positive children and up to 15,000 family members annually since its inception in 1998.

Comprehensive and Compassionate Care

The program’s comprehensive and caring approach involved a dedicated staff that provided high-quality clinical and nursing care for HIV/AIDS patients. Services included:

• Antiretroviral drugs
• Malnutrition treatment
• Health screening and monitoring
• Diagnostic testing
• Minor surgeries

Efforts to target mother-to-child transmission rates significantly reduced the number of cases passed from infected mothers to their unborn children.

Lea Toto also offered:

• Child development training
• Education and vocational training
• Caregiver training
• Food and nutrition counseling
• Psychological services
• Spiritual guidance
• Community-building training
• Microcredit services for caregivers

This holistic approach ensured that children and their families could live better lives in their own homes, leading to improved outcomes and saved lives.

A legacy of transformation

Lea Toto has touched the lives of over 3500 HIV-positive children, ensuring access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and achieving an impressive viral suppression rate of above 90%.  Additionally, Lea Toto has offered essential support to over 15,000 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and community members over the years. Sixty self-help groups empowered Lea Toto caregivers and young adults with marketable skills and business training, leading to economic stability for 60% of participating families.

Adapting During the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lea Toto adapted to continue supporting its beneficiaries. Food distribution efforts were ramped up to ensure that families did not go without food and other basic necessities during the challenging times.