Siaya county government will channel more resources towards the fight against HIV/AIDS, area Governor, James Orengo has said.
Orengo said that though the county has over the last six years reduced the HIV / AIDS prevalence rate from 24.8% to 14.7% currently, a lot more need to be done to ensure that the new infection rates drop further.
He was speaking at Bondo stadium yesterday during the 34th World Aids day celebrations.
The Governor said that efforts must be made to reduce the infection rates to a single digit and called for concerted efforts.
“It is our aim, not only to achieve a single digit prevalence rate, but even get to zero. It is achievable,” said Orengo.
Orengo also called on the public not to drop their guard against Covid 19 and the Ebola pandemic that was ravaging the Uganda that neighbours Siaya county through Lake Victoria.
“All of us must be aware of the existing pandemics and we must be ready to fight them,” he said.
Orengo said that his government will ensure that its health workers have the necessary skills and tools to fight both HIV/AIDS and other pandemics.
Addressing the occasion, Siaya county executive committee member for health, Dr Martin K’onyango said the county was facing a new challenge of increasing teenage pregnancies.
K’onyango further expressed concern over the rising cases of sexual and gender based violence amongst adolescents that contributes to the HIV/AIDS infections within the age bracket.
