Alarm Over Rise In New HIV Infections in Kenya Amongst the Youths

New HIV-Aids infections in the country are on the rise mainly among the youths with efforts to reduce the numbers in the last four years failing mainly due to financial and behavioral changes.

According to the latest data from the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), the government had planned to reduce HIV Aids related infections by 75 percent in the last four years.

The country however achieved 60 percent reduction with new infections mainly in ASAL counties on the rise with Mandera County recording a 156 percent increase.

This came as it emerged that the country was recording 6,000 new HIV cases among youths aged between 15-24 years every year amid a decline in donor funding.

In the joint annual programme review, HIV-Aids death between 2020 and 2024 reduced by a mere 2.5 percent against the targeted 50 percent.

The Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework Program Review evaluated HIV Impact Indicators and found out that only 43 counties reduced new infections, three achieved the set 75 percent reduction goal while Mandera saw a 156 percent increase.

But speaking during the launch of the programme review in Sawela Lodge Naivasha, the PS for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga noted that the country had made major strides in addressing the disease.

Oluga said that despite donor withdrawal, some counties like Siaya, Isiolo and Marsabit had recorded a drop in new infections.

He however expressed his concern over the new infections among those aged between 15-24 years noting that this spelt doom for the country in the coming years.

“We have seen an increase in new infections among youths aged between 15-24 years and this is the most productive age and its time we urgently addressed this,” he said.

The PS added that 69 percent of HIV burden was carried by ten counties adding that a rise in teenage pregnancies coupled with a rise in GBV cases had contributed to the high infections.

“We are recording over 200,000 cases of teenage pregnancies every year and with 50 percent of TB patients suffering from HIV Aids, this is a major health burden,” he said.

On her part, Nandi CEC for Health Angeline Kirui called for more funding towards training for those dealing with HIV Aids at the national and county levels.

“The donor funded programmes were effective as they had quality checks and their data collection was in a class of its own,” she said.

Busia Deputy Governor Arthur Odera noted that there was no investment in early childhood development, a move that was hampering the fight against various diseases.

Others who spoke were NSDCC board chairman Geoffrey Gitu who said that they were working closely with partners and counties in reducing HIV infections and deaths in the country.