How goat milk gave me a new lease of life

By JACKLINE INYANJI and ALEX WAKHISI

Kenya: As she lay on her presumed deathbed in September 2012, Jemima Namuma had nothing else to grasp on to reverse her deteriorating health.

She had lost Cluster of Differentiation-4 (CD4) cell count from 1,200 to 66 and was weighing a mere 46kg.

Then, a friend advised her to try goat milk that is believed to boost immunity.

After taking the milk for a few months, Ms Namuma’s CD4 cell count drastically increased from 66 to the current 700 and she is now in good health.
CD4 count measures the number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cells that fight infection, also called T-helper cell and the ideal count in a normal person should be between 400-1600 per cubic millimeter of blood.

“I had low immunity of 66 CD4 cell count but after using goat milk for some months my immunity has been boosted and I’m back to a stable CD4 cell count of 700 and weight of 55kg. I attribute this improvement to taking goat milk,” she said.

Namuma, 47, is a member of the Jitolee Support Group in Munyuki village in Lumakanda, Kakamega County, that rears dairy goats for their milk which is more nutritious compared to cow milk.

She said efforts to use the recommended ARVs to boost her health did not bear fruit.

“I used ARVs but my CD4 cells were still below average. I started using goat milk and also changed my medication to Stavudine and Lamivudine drugs,” she said.

HIV/AIDs and other diseases have for decades affected Kenyans especially in Western who have unknowingly been rearing animals that could provide the much needed ‘cure’.

Mutates

However, most Kenyans have not been using goat milk and instead prefer cow milk for their daily use.

Farmers in Kakamega County have started rearing dairy goats due to high demand for the nutritious and medicinal milk.

Dr Elizabeth Omukunda the Director AIDs Control Unit at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, in Kakamega, confirmed that goat milk contains selenium ions that boost CD4 cells.

“Goat milk contains selenium ions responsible for CD4 cells functioning in the body. It also reduces the multiplication of HIV cells,” said Omukunda.
She added that the body can fail to respond to ARVs because the virus mutates making it resistant to the drugs.

Some people develop resistance to one or more ARV drugs and this can be solved by stopping the ineffective medicine and taking up a new combination.  Omukanda also said goat milk contains a lot of ions, minerals and digestive enzymes that boost the immunity of HIV/AIDs victims.

Suppresses the virus

However, she recommended that goat milk should be taken with ARVs as the medicine suppresses the virus in the body while the milk reduces the multiplication of the virus.

“HIV/AIDs patients should use the milk and recommended medicine because the two play different roles in the body. Viral medicine suppresses the virus while milk reduces multiplication of viral cells in the victim’s body” she said.

James Nyaundi, dairy officer Lugari sub-county said rearing goats is cheaper compared to cattle.

“People in our region have started to embrace goat rearing and we encourage them to do this on large scale because of their importance to human health. It is also a source of income” said Mr Nyaundi.

He also revealed that the sub-county administration is assisting small groups to acquire dairy goats through the Smallholders Dairy Commercialization Programme which trains farmers on rearing the animals, constructing units and feeding them. 

The farmers are rearing German Alpine breed which matures fast.

Herbert Imbiti Ligaya a farmer from Mwikhomo village has acquired six dairy goats and each produces more than five litres of milk a day.

“The milk is on high demand and a litre goes for between Sh100 and Sh180. It has become popular in the region because of the medicinal value. It’s believed to help people with respiratory diseases and boosts immunity,” Mr Ligaya said.

In October last year, World Bank through Western Kenya Community Driven Development and Flood Mitigation Project (WKDD-FMP) in partnership with the Government donated more than 15 goats to Murumba community.

WKDDI-FMP facilitator Stanely Ingoka told The Standard on Saturday the dairy goats are meant to empower women economically.

“The goats are meant to alleviate poverty, empower widows, the less privileged and physically challenged people in the community and people living with HIV/AIDS,” Ingoka stated.

Benefits

Agnes Alivitsa, 65, a beneficiary of the project said she has educated the Murumba community on the benefits of goat milk and most of them are now taking the product.

“I received a dairy goat from WKDDI-FMP group and the milk has high nutrients and the demand is high as it can treat various diseases and also boost the immune system of HIV/AIDs victims,” Alivitsa said.

She explained that each member of the group contributes five per cent of the cost to sustain the project.