County to support NGOs in fight against HIV

Ace Africa Kenya Staff joined the rest of the Country and World on 1st December 2018 in celebrating the World Aids Day, that was marked at the Mateka Primary School grounds,Bumula Sub-County in Bungoma.
This was the culmination of a series of meetings co-chaired by the National Aids Control Council (NACC) Regional Coordinator and the County Liaison Officer for Health and Sanitation. This
was supported by 16 partners including Ace Africa Kenya. The theme of this years’ celebration was “Know your
HIV Status: Mwanaume Jipime Jijue”
The event was graced by the presence of Bungoma County Executive Committee Member (CEC) for Health Dr. Anthony Walela, who was accompanied by the County Director of Health and the County Liaison Oficer for Health and Sanitation.
The Day started with a procession from Musikoma Market led by Boda Boda taxi riders. They passed through shopping centres in the area, gathering more people on the way. After 3 kilometres, they inally arrived at the event destination.
In his speech the CEC Health encouraged men to get tested and know their HIV status. Currently, statistics place women aged between 15 and 24 years at the highest risk of contracting
HIV besides being a group that constitutes the bulk of new infections.
This group is mostly found in
schools and has challenges with HIV
related stigma.
The Kenya HIV 2018 Estimates report released by the National Government demonstrated a gradual
decline in HIV prevalence nationally. However, in Bungoma County
prevalence rose from 2.8 to 3.2 per
cent.
“This is why the county is rooting for a multi-sectoral approach in the fight and management of HIV and Aids,” said Dr Walela.
County Aids and STI Coordinator (CASCO) Bungoma representative Nixon Barasa indicated that the County hosts 32,000 people living with HIV, out of which only 27,000 are on care.
Strategies are however in place to reverse the trend. These include Partner Notiication Services, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission, Community Strategy and Moonlight testing.
County Liaison officer for Health and Sanitation urged the Health NGOs Network (HENNET) to be more proactive in the fight against
HIV by ensuring more people get tested, while those who test positive are immediately put on treatment.
Bungoma being a border county is grappling with the issues of transactional sex, involving Key Populations
like long distance truck drivers and commercial sex workers.
“Our County Government will continue to work with all stakeholders
to manage HIV and Aids,” said the health officer.
NACC Regional Coordinator Rev.
Steven Kathaka thanked the stakeholders for coming out in large numbers to support the event. He informed the gathering that during events running up to the celebrations, some 1505 boda boda riders
were tested in Kanduyi, Webuye,Kimilili and Chwele areas of Bungoma County.
“Being the gate keepers in the community, their resolve to get tested would ensure that the rest of the
household members follow suit,”
said the NAAC regional coordinator.