Holy Family Center
The Holy Family Center at Nazareth Hospital provides education, drug and nutrition support, and fellowship for thousands of HIV/AIDS patients. Programs like Mother to Mother work to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV through counseling and medical guidance. The Youth Mentor Program brings HIV+ teens together to build community and combat the stigmas surrounding HIV/AIDS. Today more than 5,000 HIV+ patients are cared for by the full-time medical staff at the Holy Family Center (HFC) at Nazareth Hospital. The clinic provides antiretrovirals and assists HIV+ patients in many aspects of their lives, going far beyond just medical care.
MEET ERIC - HFC Program Coordinator
Eric Munene is the Program Coordinator at the Holy Family Center, where he provides overall leadership for HIV & TB care and treatment services across HFC and its affiliated clinics. He joined Tree of Lives (TOL) in 2010 as a clinical nurse and has progressively grown into his current role, bringing deep clinical insight and strong program management experience to the work.
Eric works closely with a team of over 60 staff to ensure the smooth day-to-day operation of HFC, overseeing comprehensive care for more than 5,000 HIV clients ranging from 1 to 80 years of age. Under Eric’s leadership, the center delivers a wide range of services, including ART provision, adherence counseling, home visits to assess living conditions and treatment compliance, and targeted support for clients facing food insecurity or transport challenges. The program also implements critical complementary services such as food basket support, access to specialized diagnostic tests, HPV vaccination, and cancer screening services.
Eric’s dedication, hands-on leadership, and commitment to patient-centered care have been central to the effectiveness and stability of the Holy Family Center’s HIV/TB program, contributing to improved adherence, continuity of care, and overall patient well-being. Eric goes home each day to his wife and 2 sons.
Other Tree of Lives Partnerships Within the Holy Family Center
Youth Mentor Program
Living with HIV is challenging enough for your health. However, today, many of those diagnosed with HIV face stigma and scrutiny because of their diagnosis. There is a big push for awareness and acceptance in ages 10-24. Because these children have to be in school, they often prioritize education over getting their medicine and treatment. The youth mentor program gives the youth a leader to help them get past the stigma and learn how to properly take care of themselves. Since the creation of the program, there has been improvement in their daily lives and the overall suppression rate for that age group has been much higher.
Mother to Mother
Without intervention, there is a 15%-45% chance that a HIV+ mother can transmit to their child during periods of pregnancy, labor, delivery and breastfeeding. However, with small amounts of intervention this rate can be reduced to below 5%. That is what our Mother-to-Mother program is designed to do. Over the past 12 years our program has had a 0% transmission rate from HIV+ mothers to their child.
Food Pack & Infant Milk Program
The food pack program provides vital nutritional support to patients living with HIV/AIDS. By helping to address food insecurity and reduce malnutrition, the program enables individuals to access a more balanced diet that supports healthy growth and development. This support has also led to improved medication adherence among clients who may struggle with limited or no access to regular meals. In addition, elderly caregivers are better able to care for orphaned children, thanks to the consistent assistance they receive during clinic visits at the Holy Family Center.
Breast milk remains the ideal source of nutrition for the healthy growth and development of infants and young children. However, in certain situations where there is a risk of mother-to-child transmission — such as high maternal viral load, breast complications, or other HIV-related issues — replacement feeding becomes a safer option for the child. In these cases, HIV-exposed infants (HEIs) are supported with infant formula, ensuring they still receive the nutrition needed for healthy development.
Boxes of Love
At Christmas time, Tree of Lives sells a box filled with handmade African crafts and collectibles and the proceeds from each sale enable us to provide much-needed provisions to families during the winter months in Kenya. Gift packs are distributed to children enrolled in Nazareth HIV care programs and those participating in the Tree of Lives Scholars Program. The recipients received food items, hygiene supplies, school materials, and messages of encouragement.
What Tree of Lives provides to the Holy Family Center:
1. Fully funds the Mother to Mother program that works to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child. For many years this program has sustained a 0% transmission rate.
2. Fully supports the Youth Mentor Program that brings HIV+ teens together to combat the stigmas surrounding HIV/AIDS and creates a community of belonging.
3. Developed and supports the food beneficiary program that provides nutrient-rich food packs to the needy and those who can’t care for themselves.
4. Supplies formula tins to orphaned babies and children whose mothers are not able to care for them.
