HIV infection on the rise among youths

Sicily Kariuki

The Ministry of health has raised concerns over the upward push in new HIV infections among the youth, terming it a drawback in the fight against the disease.

Health cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said over 40 per cent of all new HIV infections occur amongst adolescents aged 15-24 years.

She stated the 2018 global progress report by UNAids confirms that attainment of 90:90:90 goals by 2020 may be an uphill project if interventions are not scaled up, especially in regard to new infections and stigma levels.

Ms Kariuki made the remarks in a speech read on her behalf by the health chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman during the 10th anniversary of Aids Healthcare foundation (AHF) Kenya.

AHF Kenya is an NGO working in the HIV/Aids sector in areas of treatment, testing, condoms programming and advocacy.

TESTED 3 MILLION KENYANS

The organization works in Makueni, Mombasa, Nairobi, Murang'a, Kilifi, Kwale, Turkana, Nairobi and Homa Bay counties and serves more than 50,000 people.

AHF Kenya chairman Stephen Karau stated they have examined over 3 million Kenyans and distributed 18 million condoms free of charge.

He stated the NGO has enjoyed good partnerships with each tiers of government and is happy to make contributions toward the big 4 agenda, specifically in providing universal health coverage to all Kenyans.

Dr Karau stated AHF Kenya will continue to offer suitable services and work intently with applicable government agencies just like the national Aids control Council, the national Aids and STIS control Programme and the civil society in the fight to reduce the HIV/Aids spread.

HIV PREVENTION

“This is remarkable progress which we have achieved in the brief ten years. We will keep working with our partners and all stakeholders to make sure that we obtain the country's HIV/Aids goals,’’ stated Dr Karau.

In the meantime, Ms Kariuki stated Kenya has, over the past decade, made deliberate efforts towards HIV prevention. Those consist of embracing of biomedical tactics along with test and start strategies, condom programming and high-impact interventions in the direction of the elimination of mother-to-child HIV and syphilis transmissions.

Ms Kariuki cited other projects including the Linda Mama programme and first lady Margaret Kenyatta’s beyond zero campaign, that have contributed to successes in healthcare provision.