SPIRULINA PROJECT GIVES HIV/AIDS PATIENTS HOPE IN WESTERN KENYA

Little did Prof Asenath Sigot, a nutritionist by profession know that her research on spirulina farming project in western Kenya region would endear her to the locals.

Five years down the line, the “super food” spirulina water plant has seen once bedridden and emaciated HIV/AIDS patients regain their health and hope. The beneficiaries are mainly drawn from kakamega, Bungoma, and Vihiga counties where the Masinde Muliro University Don has engaged some interested farmers.

“The main objective was to enhance food security by training and empowering the community with skills that are necessary for them to venture into spirulina farming full-throttle,” she said in an interview.

Research, said prof Sigot showed spirulina contains has low fat, calorie and cholesterol and is chief source of protein containing all the essential amino acids. “It helps combat problems like diabetes, anemia and atmospheric pollution as well.”

Spirulina grows naturally in mineral-rich alkaline lakes with largest concentrations found at Lake Texcoco in Mexico, around Lake Chad in Central Africa and along the Great Rift Valley in East Africa.
Farmers mix salt with clean water in the ponds within a greenhouse for the plant to start growing. The water is changed every fortnight to keep pests and diseases at bay. Drying the plant takes between two and three-days, but it should not be exposed to direct sunlight that reduces its nutritional value.

Experts argue that spirulina control other ailments like cancer, arthritis and cataracts too. Moreover, the gama linolic acid present in the plant and the sulfolipids combat HIV/AIDS and heart problems.

Prof Sigot said she was very impressed that the project had been embraced by local communities in the region. “I am so humbled that patients have been able to walk again after feeding on products from spirulina” she said.

She noted that the locals could eke a living from the plant as well. “We are encouraging them to do it on a large scale because spirulina requires the smallest space ever,” explained Sigot.

Farmers practicing spirulina husbandry said they sell 1 kilogram for ksh. 10,000. “Basically, we add value to it by grinding and packaging the same as capsules and in bottles, each capsule weighing 10 grams costs 20 shillings,” said Alfred Ndambala, who is incharge of indangalasia community HIV/AIDS Resource centre in Lurambi.

The organization relies on spirulina to feed at least 400 orphaned children some of whom are infected. “We give the product to patients free of charge to help them regain their health and become active members in the society once again,” said Nambala adding that some of them have since married and re-married.

Prof Sigot who has been visiting the farmers more often believe Kenya could save billions of shillings spent on importation of fertilizer for cash crops farming by investing in the less demanding spirulina. Growing in alkaline waters, it takes about 72 hours to mature. It is grinded and sold for Sh10 per gramme.