Bungoma Deputy Governor Jenifer Mbatiany has said that teenage girls, women and young boys represent a growing share of people getting infected with HIV/AIDS in Bungoma County daily.
Mbatiany now wants the relevant authorities to intervene and help Bungoma in fighting the high number of HIV and gender based violence cases.
Speaking at Sang’alo Institute of Science and Technology on Monday, Mbatiany said records at health facilities across the county show that new infections are mostly being recorded among young boys and girls aged 15-19 years.
Mbatiany said the upcoming National world AIDS day will be held in Bungoma County saying that it will help in sensitizing the community on the right information about how HIV is transmitted and how to protect themselves.
“The event will be held on Thursday at Kibabii University and will be graced by President William Ruto,” Mbatiany added.
The deputy governor however called on members of the public to stop stigmatizing those living with HIV/AIDS. “Let us stop looking down on people living with HIV/AIDS but instead support them,” Mbatiany added.
She said that she will continue advocating and protecting the young girls as a way of modeling and protecting the future generation.
During the event some 3,000 trees were planted at the college.
Douglas Bosire from the National AIDS Control Council said that both the County and national data on HIV will be officially released at Kibabii University during the world aids day.
He said that the HIV prevalence among adults (15-49) in the general population has declined from 9.1 percent in 2000 to 4.3 percent in 2021, the new infections reduced from about 101,448 in 2013 to 34, 540, while annual AIDS related deaths declined from 52,964 in 2010 to 22, 373 in 2021.
Bosire noted that in 2021, Bungoma County reported 1227 cases of sexual gender based violence among adolescents aged 10- 17 years. He said that in line with the country’s strategic direction, there is need to sustain the gains, bridge the gaps and accelerate progress in the HIV response in Kenya.
He said that the HIV crisis among children and adolescents aged 15-19 is aggravated by a myriad of challenges.
He noted that in 2021, one in every two of 16,476 sexual and gender based violence cases reported occurred among children and adolescents aged between 10-17 years.
Bosire said that in the same year 20 percent of all reported teenage pregnancies were among adolescents aged 10-19 years.
Sang’alo Institute of Science and Technology Principal, Dr Rosebella C. Chukwu emphasized the need to plant trees to counter climate change.
