Kajiado North Sub-County marked World AIDS Day with local leaders urging stakeholders to increase awareness, testing, and prevention of infections among the youth.
World Aids Day is observed annually on December 1 as a global event to celebrate the progress made in HIV response and also as a platform for raising awareness and sustaining the commitment to end AIDS as a public health concern.
The Kajiado County Deputy Governor, Martin Moshisho, who presided over the event at the Ngong Stadium, said young people are the most vulnerable group and need guidance to prevent them from getting HIV.
“I want to thank everyone for considering the adolescents and youth during this year’s World AIDS Day and also urge the youth to be responsible and use the protection precautions provided,” he added.
Moshisho mentioned that in the previous years the County of Kajiado had recorded one of the highest numbers of HIV infections but the numbers have been decreasing from 3.1 per cent to 2.3 per cent
The Deputy Governor called upon residents to shun stigmatising those affected by the disease in order to give them moral support.
Chief Officer for Public Health, Kajiado Eddie Kimani, highlighted the role of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and urged them to increase household visits even as they go round collecting data.
Kajiado North Sub-County Assistant County Commissioner Sylvia Ochola, who represented the Deputy County Commissioner, said the national theme, “Ending AIDS in Adolescents and Young People”, calls for an urgent, united action.
“Young people in Kenya and here in Kajiado still face high risks of new HIV infections. Our message today is simple: knowledge, testing, and support to save lives. We must ensure our youth have accurate information, not myths. Let us also end stigma too since it makes many adolescents avoid services out of fear. If we do not protect our young people, we cannot win the fight against HIV,” she said.
Ngong Ward MCA Mbiriri Mwaura stressed the need for both prevention and support for persons living with HIV.
“We are here not only for those with HIV but also to teach our people how to prevent infections. Stigma must end. Our message today is protection, compassion, and correct information.”
He encouraged leaders to keep the young people engaged in productive activities as a way of reducing risk. “When youth are idle, they become vulnerable. Engaging them in sports, training, and community programmes is one way of protecting their health,” said the ward representative.
The MCA also added that they passed a Sh10 million budget to train health service providers so that they can continue offering HIV care, emphasising that more resources would allow subsidising of essential drugs to ensure continued treatment.
Kajiado North Sub-County Administrator Samuel Muchiri underscored the importance of awareness, support, and prevention, urging youth to act as ambassadors in their communities.
He called for unity in supporting persons living with HIV, encouraging togetherness to uplift each other.
Sub-County Director of Medical Services, Ongata Rongai Dr. Lydia Munteyian outlined activities conducted during the commemoration of the day, including blood donation, HIV testing, and community dialogues.
She noted that 41 per cent of new HIV infections in Kenya occur among adolescents and youth, calling it a national concern and encouraging them to live their lives responsibly.
The HIV prevalence rate in Kajiado County is 4.4 per cent, which is lower than the national prevalence rate of 6.4 per cent.
Young people in the county face various health challenges such as sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and AIDS, female genital mutilation, drug and substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.
By Anne Wambui and Felicia Debra
