Chinese companies help Kenyans with health, finances

Two prominent Chinese companies rolled out programs with Kenya NGOs on Thursday to kick off the China-Africa People-to-People Friendship Action in Kenya.

Huawei Technologies (Kenya) is partnering with Shades of Hope to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in rural areas in the country, and ZTE Corp Kenya is partnering with the Forum for African Women Educationists (FAWE) to support its entrepreneurial efforts.

The programs were unveiled in a ceremony attended by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and Chinese Ambassador Liu Xianfa in Nairobi.

Voluntary medical male circumcision, which has been recommended by the World Health Organization and UNAIDS since 2007 as a strategy to prevent the spread of HIV, has been performed on more than 400 boys and men in Samburu County, which is some 400 kilometers north of Nairobi. Voluntary counseling and testing also have been offered.

The cooperation of ZTE with FAWE will help women living in western counties of Kenya receive financial training and support to start microbusinesses. "This project will focus on long-term solutions rather than financial aid, as it will empower women to support their family as well as sending their children to school," said Liu Sen, CEO of ZTE Kenya, in the ceremony.

The first lady hailed the partnership, saying it symbolizes the growing exchanges between Kenya and China under the China-Africa People-to-People Friendship Action.

"Implementation of the two projects will help to improve the well-being of the Kenyan people and strengthen the understanding and friendship between our two peoples," the first lady said.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Xianfa reiterated China's commitment to improving the welfare of people in the country. He said the China-Africa People-to-People Friendship Action is one of the many initiatives China has embarked on to promote socioeconomic ties between his country and African nations.