At least 16,923 out of 24,176 Persons living with HIV (PLHIV) in Makueni County are aware of their HIV status, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has said.
Kilonzo said his administration was keen in ensuring that 95 percent of PLHIV in the county have knowledge of HIV and access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment by 2026.
“We have attained impressive results so far, 70 percent of Makuenians living with HIV are aware of their HIV status. Of those who know their status, 94 percent are on HIV treatment and 92 percent of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression,” said Mutula during World AIDs day on Thursday at Kenya Medical Training College, Wote.
Consequently, Mutula called on stakeholders to fast-track HIV/AIDS awareness in the public places including churches and mosque so that residents can access HIV testing and treatment without fear of discrimination.
“We call upon all of you to join us to achieve the targets within the next 48 months. We can end stigma and allow those scared of accessing services to do so without fear of discrimination,” said Governor Kilonzo adding: “Let us equalise to save lives and end new HIV infections in Kenya.”
He said the county will set aside HIV kitty in the next financial year.
According to the National Syndemic Disease Council (NSDC) report on Makueni county profile 2021, there are 24,176 PLHIV where 4,520 are young persons aged between 10-24 years old.
The report shows that Kibwezi East and Kibwezi sub counties have high preference rate at 3.8 percent, Makueni (3.2), Kilome (3.2), Kaiti (2.6) and Mbooni Sub County has 2.3 percent prevalence rate.
