The outbreak of violence following the Kenya General Election on 30 December 2007 has forced Malteser International – the Order of Malta worldwide relief service – to suspend its work in the slums of Nairobi temporarily. Office staff have returned to work, but the project areas in the slums are not accessible. Due to the closing of the health centres in the slums, and the interruption to treatment for patients suffering from tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS, it is feared that a subsequent resistance to the drugs could result, leading to a drastic increase in AIDS victims and deaths.

As soon as the situation in the slums is calm again Malteser International will carry out further investigations and assessments of the impact on their work with TB and HIV patients. They will also give immediate relief to the needy, providing food/non food items and water and sanitation support.

In the long term, Malteser International also plans to offer psychosocial help and care in the resettlement of the numerous displaced persons.

Malteser International runs 8 dispensaries in the slums of Nairobi, providing assistance to 600,000 people.