New infections among the youth has been identified as a major challenge in the fight against HIV/Aids. This was revealed during World Aids Day that was held at Kirinyaga University.
This year’s theme was focused around ending new HIV infections, adolescent pregnancies and sexual and gender-based violence.
Speaking during the event Kirinyaga County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, George Karoki, said that due to the rising cases of new HIV infections among the youth, the county is now aligning its programming towards the reduction of the same by engaging and involving the youth in implementation of various prevention interventions.
Karoki said that adolescents and young persons aged between 15-24 years’ account for 24% of new infections that are recorded in the county. He said the county will enhance engagement with the group so that they take the lead in advocating for HIV prevention and management.
According to the CEC, Kirinyaga County has 14,000 people living with HIV with 11,000 of them under Anti-Retroviral Treatment, among these being 400 children.
“We have at least 95% of those infected under treatment and we want to encourage all those who test positive to ensure that they are put on treatment to enable them to continue leading productive lives”, said the CEC.
Kirinyaga University Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic and Students Affairs, Prof Charles Omwandho, said that the institution was committed to partnering with the County Government in the fight against HIV.
He called on every individual to provide necessary support to the infected and affected as it is a shared responsibility to encourage each other.
“We will work together to ensure that the spread of the virus among the youth is checked. It is at the core of our performance contracting and we will offer the support that is required for implementation of various strategies in the fight against HIV”, said Omwandho while at the same time advising the students to protect themselves against contracting the virus.
Dorcas Nyawira Kangangi, 25, a youth peer educator with LVCT Health advised those who test positive to accept themselves and take their medication as required. She said that she was diagnosed with HIV in 2017 and at the time went through self-stigmatization as well as stigmatization by other people. She however confessed that after accepting her status and adhering to her HIV management plan, she has been living her life to the fullest.
The occasion brought together Kirinyaga University students, other youth, county health officials and members of the public.
