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This campaign calls for education, community engagement, legal enforcement, and social support systems to prevent violence and ensure that every individual can live with dignity, free from fear and harm. By working together, we can build a society where respect, equality, and safety are non-negotiable rights for all

Introduction

The tropical Institute of Community Health and Development (TICH) is a training, research and enterprise institution that focuses on empowering local communities through training of youth in employable skills to contribute to poverty reduction and how to tackle the climate change challenges.  TICH mobilizes different communities in Kenya to use green energy that comes from natural, renewable sources like sunlight, wind, and water, producing power with little to no environmental harm. Key examples include solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy. As pioneers of Community Based Health Care, TICH pilot the training and engagement of community health workers (CHWs) as solar accessories sales agents. The proposed model connects TICH with every household in 10 counties across Kenya. The one-year pilot, TICH trains 200 CHWs as solar accessories sales agents supported by TICH trained solar technicians to solve technical problems that arise.

Today, we stand together to raise awareness, fight stigma, and promote prevention, care, and support in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

At Tropical Institute of Community Health and Development (TICH), we believe that strong communities are the foundation of an AIDS-free generation. Through education, training, and outreach, we empower individuals with knowledge and skills to protect lives and build healthier futures.

Let us:
End stigma and discrimination
Promote testing and treatment
Support those affected
Educate our communities
Lead with compassion and action

Together, we can stop HIV and save lives.

#WorldAIDSDay #LetCommunitiesLead #TICH #EndHIV #StopStigma #HealthForAll #CommunityPower

TICH has successfully served as a secretariat for a range of health initiatives, including the Lake Region Economic Block (LREB), and functioned as the Secretariat for the Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance (SAHARA) for Eastern and Central Africa from 2004 to 2010. Additionally, TICH has been an active member of the African Malaria Network Trust (AMANET, 2012) and participated in the Teasdale-Corti Grants IDRC-funded project in 2014. This project involved collaboration with universities from Ottawa, Alberta, the West Indies, North West, and South Africa, focusing on leadership hubs to strengthen District Health Systems performance in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean.

As a Centre of Research Excellence for Health Systems Strengthening (CRESS), TICH has facilitated knowledge exchange and strategic planning across multiple countries. The organization has established key partnerships with prominent entities such as WHO, UNICEF, and the Rockefeller Foundation in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Malawi, which led to the development of the TICH DHS performance improvement model. Furthermore, the training of managers and service providers in Kenya in 2014, funded by DFID and the Global Health Research Initiative (Canada), resulted in TICH being contracted to develop the Ministry of Health's Community Health Strategy which is the government’s current framework.

These initiatives have enabled TICH to significantly enhance health service delivery and research capacity across Africa. Through its diverse programs, TICH has produced substantial outputs, including training materials, technical reports, and peer-reviewed publications, all contributing to health system strengthening and policy development continent-wide. TICH’s collaborative approach, emphasizing partnership building and resource sharing, has solidified its position as a leader in health systems capacity building and research excellence in Africa.