AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Kenya today unveiled the AHF Kenya Wellness Clinic at the AHF Mathare Clinic on Juja Road, the country’s largest standalone comprehensive care centre.
The new clinic expands holistic, client‑centred services for communities across Nairobi and neighbouring counties, with a strong focus on evidence‑based diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV prevention.
“At Mathare we are launching a new service we’re calling wellness—we screen for all types of STIs and treat based on laboratory evidence, not guesswork,” said Dr. Samuel Kinyanjui, Country Director, AHF Kenya. “By introducing PCR testing and collaborating with KEMRI on culture and drug‑sensitivity testing, our clinicians can precisely identify the cause—bacterial or viral—and choose the drug that works. That means faster recovery for clients and fewer chances of onward transmission.”
What the Wellness Clinic offers
The AHF Kenya Wellness Clinic provides confidential, free sexual and reproductive health services, including:
- STI counselling, testing and health education
- STI testing & treatment for HIV, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis
- HIV prevention services: PrEP, PEP, and condom education & distribution
Clients are registered with a unique identifier to protect privacy, assessed by counsellors, and seen by a clinician who orders appropriate tests (urine, blood and swabs). PCR testing—a molecular technique that detects the actual causative agent—supports targeted treatment. Resistant or recurrent cases are referred for culture and drug‑sensitivity testing through AHF’s collaboration with KEMRI (Prof. Matili Mwao) to ensure the chosen antibiotic will be effective.
“PCR is the gold standard but often out of reach due to cost. AHF’s investment bridges that gap,” said Dr. Stephen Ndolo, Director of Promotion and Programme Management at the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), Ministry of Health. “By diagnosing the specific infection rather than treating syndromes alone, we improve outcomes and help protect the wider community.”
Why this matters now
Untreated STIs can cause infertility and increase vulnerability to acquiring HIV—for example, lesions and inflammation make transmission more likely. Clinicians at the Wellness Clinic report that a large share of clients are asymptomatic, underscoring the importance of routine screening. The clinic currently serves 15–20 clients daily, with syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia the most commonly detected infections.
Access, affordability and scale
All Wellness Clinic services are provided at no cost to clients. While a single PCR test costs KSh 4,800–5,500 to perform, AHF Kenya absorbs this cost with support from partners, ensuring equitable access. A typical “wellness” episode of care—including consultation, testing and treatment—delivers an estimated value of about KSh 7,500 at no charge to the client. TB screening and treatment are also free regardless of HIV status; PMTCT and immunisation services are available for eligible mothers and infants. The clinic is integrated with county systems and community health promoters to strengthen referrals across Nairobi.
Looking ahead, AHF Kenya is exploring using Mathare as a sentinel site to inform national STI guidelines, with potential expansion of similar services to Mombasa and Nakuru subject to budget and planning. An online booking portal will be introduced to manage patient flow and minimise waiting times.
“Our goal is simple: science‑driven, people‑first care,” said Joash Mbuya, Clinical Officer at the Wellness Clinic. “We follow Ministry of Health and WHO guidelines, use first‑line regimens, and when needed escalate to second‑line or culture‑guided therapy. We also prioritise partner notification and condom education to break the chain of infection.”
Location
AHF Kenya Wellness Clinic, inside AHF Mathare Clinic, Juja Road, Nairobi.