NSDCC urged to clarify HIV prevalence rates

Migori,

Saturday November 11, 2023

KNA by Gilbert Onyango/Geoffrey Makokha

The Lake Victoria Initiatives, Executive Director Peter Gwengi has urged the relevant authorities to clarify the recent national HIV-AIDS prevalence report.

The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) report 2023 revealed that Migori County had the fourth highest HIV-AIDs prevalence at 9.7 percent.

According to the NSDCC report, other counties with the highest HIV prevalence include Homa Bay at 15.2 percent, Kisumu 14.5 percent, Siaya at 13.2 percent, and Kisii 4.4 percent. 

Gwengi said that there was a need to clarify the report so that Kenyans are not misled by biased and miscalculated figures. 

The official explained that there was a need to establish the difference between HIV-AIDS prevalence (the number of people living with HIV) and incidence (new infections) to help the community establish a true reflection of their health status.

Gwengi alleged that the prevalence rate should not worry the populace because it projects how individuals are performing in terms of medication index.

He said that The Lake Victoria Initiatives has been doing a lot of intervention in Migori County to reduce the number of incidences by creating awareness among the youths as well as encouraging those living with HIV to continue with their medication.

The official also urged the national government and the counties to address the shortage of condoms in health facilities in order to prevent new infections.

Gwengi also called upon the youths to practice self-control or use protection for their own health in order to inherit a better and prosperous nation.

According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) Key Indicator Report of 2022, slightly more than half of young people in Kenya aged 15 to 24 know about HIV prevention.

DHS also indicated women and men in Migori County aged 15–49; tested in the last 12 months stood at 59.1 and 53.7 percent respectively.

The county was ranked second among men who have been tested in the last 12 months just behind Narok County (55.3%)’ while women were ranked sixth among 47 counties.

The Migori County HIV-AIDS Coordinator Eliza Owino said that they will focus their intervention on the young people who are on long holidays to reduce new infections.

He disclosed that the County has put in place migration measures and programmes that will engage the youths in co-curricular activities like sports, HIV sensitization, counseling, and testing across the 12 Sub Counties.

The official also acknowledged that voluntary male circumcision has helped the county to reduce the HIV incidence rate from 14 to 12 percent.

He explained that in terms of HIV testing and counseling, the county was at 85 percent, while Antiretroviral (ARV) Drug consumption uptake stood at 95 percent.

In 2021, Migori County launched the County Aids Implementation Plan (CAIP) 2020/2021-2024/2025, aimed at giving a road map for delivering quality HIV health services in line with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and Africa-Agenda 2063.

Courtesy; KNA