By K, KNA
HIV/AIDS new infections in Nyandarua County have been on the decline since 2020 with current 2025 new infections standing at 541, a decline from last year’s 728.
In her speech on Monday during commemoration of World AIDS Day in Mairo Inya trading centre in Ndaragwa Sub County, Nyandarua County Executive Committee Member for health services Juliana Syoweu Tisnanga however noted that the number of clients actively on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has increased to 11, 445 from last year’s 11,272 clients.
Tisnanga said the steady decline in new infections is not by chance but as a result of deliberate integration, community empowerment and relentless commitment to prevention, and testing.
She also noted the department has employed multi- sectoral collaboration by working hand in hand with education, agriculture, youth, and gender sectors to address the social determinants of health.
“Our Community Health Promoters and advocates have brought HIV services closer to households, ensuring linkage, and adherence support,” she added.
“Though the decline in new infections is encouraging, the 541 new infections this year reminds us that our work is not done. We must scale up prevention, especially among the young people and key populations,” pointed out Tisnanga.
The CECM further noted that there is need to continue integrating HIV services with other out-patient services to reduce stigma and improve efficiency.
Tisnanga also reiterated the county’s commitment in investing in community-led solutions that sustain the progress beyond donor support.
“We have embedded HIV services into the broader fabric of our health system and HIV care is no longer a silo, it is integrated into our outpatient departments, maternal and child health clinics,” she added.
The CECM health added that this integration ensures that every client who walks into health facilities receives a holistic care, free from stigma and fragmentation.
She said the county’s journey to containing HIV/AIDS has been one of resilience, innovation and integration.
Nyandarua North DCC, Angeline Were said that Aids is spreading among the youth because of desire to live luxurious lifestyles that is normally beyond their means.
“The youth have a mindset of luxurious life and that is how they end up being misused by people with money,” the administrator said.
She called upon the families to have conversation with their children to enlighten them on sexual matters.
“It’s my humble request, as we mark this day, that families have conversation with their children and educate them on sexuality because that is how to enlighten them on dangers of AIDS,” she added.
The DCC said during the December festive season many young people from colleges and form four leavers will flock the sub county but cautioned them to be responsible and careful.
Were said the rampant theft of livestock and shops break-in witnessed in the area is by people looking to support a lifestyle beyond their means and promised to deploy more police patrols.
