More than 93 per cent of people living with HIV and AIDS in Kisumu County have been diagnosed with the virus and are on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and care.
A new report launched during Thursday’s World AIDs Day by Kisumu County’s Health Department revealed that more people infected with the disease between 2020 and 2022 are aware of their HIV status and have embraced HIV treatment.
Kisumu has 1,703 new infections this year alone compared to 1,589 and 1,276 in Homabay and Siaya counties respectively for the same period. Nairobi recorded 1,300 while Nakuru has 1,332 new cases.
In 2021, the Lakeside County had 3,118 new infections, a slight decrease from 3,396 registered in 2020.
The milestone was achieved through a collaborative effort by various stakeholders and the county health department to fight and curb the spread of the HIV/AIDs menace.
The Director of Public Health and Sanitation Fredrick Oluoch while officiating the event on Thursday said that so far 96 per cent of the patients on ARVs have attained viral suppression.
He further highlighted the county’s commitment to attaining the global 95-95-95 target of ensuring 95 per cent achievement on knowledge of HIV/AIDS and access to treatment and viral suppression by 2030.
“The health department is working with stakeholders to end HIV/AIDs as a public health threat, and eliminate all forms of stigma and discrimination in Kenya by 2030,” he noted.
Mr Oluoch further emphasized the need to end new infections of the virus, teenage pregnancies, and sexual gender-based violence (SGBV).
He acknowledged the effort made by various advocacy groups and partners that have been pivotal in the realization of positive HIV/AIDs response in the area.
“The fight against the spread of HIV has been ongoing within the county for decades and even though milestones can be celebrated, there is still a long way to go in ensuring eradication and control of the disease,” stated Oluoch.
Kisumu residents, he stated, are living free of the virus due to the heightened public awareness campaigns on the modes of contracting the disease.
“However, these elaborate measures have been undermined by teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence posing grave danger to the younger generation,” he said.
The current rate of teenage pregnancies in Kisumu stands at 16 per cent against the national average of 18 per cent.
The director stressed the need to protect young girls and boys from assaults like rape, defilement, and early pregnancy.
