The Kenya Selenium Project
In partnership with St John Ambulance, Embu, Kenya
Founded in 1923, St John Ambulance is a volunteer-led organization providing vital first aid and emergency medical services throughout Kenya — especially in underserved rural areas like Embu in central Kenya.
Their mission is simple yet powerful: to ensure that every household has access to lifesaving care, no matter how remote.
For over a decade, Cypress Systems has partnered with St John Ambulance to support HIV-positive mothers through the power of selenium supplementation. Most of these women contracted the virus under devastating circumstances. Through this partnership, and with the ongoing support of SelenoExcell®, over 100 women have experienced life-changing improvements to their health, dignity, and ability to care for their families. Paul Willis, founder of Cypress and A Thousand Plus, has seen these transformations firsthand — stories of hope, resilience, and recovery.
“The project started in 2006 with mothers and children living with HIV/AIDS. With SelenoExcell, the goal was to boost their immunity and fight other related conditions.”
— Nelson Mwaniki, Coordinator, St John Ambulance, Embu
The impact, as witnessed by Nelson and his team, is profound:
Once bedridden mothers have regained strength and extended their lives.
Improved health has empowered women to return to work and support their families.
Opportunistic infections have dramatically declined.
Children of these women are now succeeding in school — thriving because their mothers are thriving.
This is the heart of our mission: giving women the tools to heal, rebuild, and lead — one resilient step at a time.
