Tharaka Nithi County has recorded a decrease in the number of new HIV cases as more people accept reality and turn to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) reducing government resources spent on those living with the virus.
County Director of Health Services Dr John Mbogo said the decrease has allowed more resources to be channeled into other areas to improve the health sector.
Speaking during the commemoration of the World AIDS day that was held at Chuka Picnic grounds, Thursday, Dr Mbogo said the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in 2018 was 8,453 and as of 2021, it had reduced to 8,161 people with the number of new infections per 1000 people declining from 1.2 percent in 2018 to 0.4 last year.
“Statistics indicate that an estimated 6,529 (77.2 percent) people were on antiretroviral therapy in 2018 with the number increasing to 7,752 (94.9 percent) in 2021. Over time the number of people willing to take the ART has increased with only 5.1 percent yet to accept reality by last year,” Dr Mbogo disclosed.
He said the annual HIV infection among children and youth has also declined from 52 in 2018 to 20 in 2021 and 978 to 603 over the same period among children aged 0-14 and youth aged 18-24 years respectively.
He however lamented that the number of new infections among the youth aged 15-24 years and adolescents aged between 10-19 years was still quite high and urged them to use protection whenever they engage in sex to further reduce new infections in the county.
“Youths and adolescents alone contributed to 60 new infections between 2018 and 2021 and therefore I urge them to realize that we need them to develop the county and hence desist from engaging in unprotected sex,” Dr Mbogo said.
He further urged the community to get tested so that the positive ones seek counseling and start taking the HIV drugs early while those negative protect themselves from the virus.
Speaking during the event, Tharaka Nithi Deputy Governor, Wilson Nyaga (Muisraeli) called for HIV/Aids awareness creation among children. He also suggested that mothers be sensitized more on mother to child transmission.
“Mother-to-child transmission of HIV is another challenge among our people with 10.9 percent of all HIV-positive mothers passing the virus to their children. This is due to late or non- attendance to antenatal clinics. It is good for positive mothers to enlighten others and help them seek medical advice so as to help them deliver their child safely,” Nyaga said.
Nyaga said that the county government has worked tirelessly to improve maternal health and newborn care in all health facilities across the county by initiating 127 units, ensuring a consistent and adequate supply of health commodities, and engaging 1,265 community health volunteers.
He urged men to support their spouses’ access health services during these crucial moments to prevent infecting the unborn children.
Nyaga echoed Dr Mbogo’s sentiments urging the youth to abstain from sex or use protection to help reduce the number of new infections in the county.
