A new HIV prevention programme targeting people who test negative for HIV has been launched in Kilifi County as part of efforts to reduce new infections in the country.
The initiative involves the use of lenacapavir, a simplified six-monthly HIV prevention injection designed to protect HIV-negative individuals from infection.
Health stakeholders urged young people and pregnant women to embrace the new prevention option amid rising cases in the county.
Kilifi County Disease Control Unit Health Officer Catherine Munyoki said the HIV infection rate among young people aged between 15 and 24 has reached 40 percent, threatening to reverse gains made in the fight against the disease.
“The infection rate among young people aged 15 to 24 has reached 40 percent and this could stall previous progress if urgent measures are not taken,” she said.
Munyoki also urged pregnant women living with HIV to strictly follow prevention guidelines to reduce mother-to-child transmission.
“Mother-to-child transmission has risen from 13.8 percent last year to 19.5 percent this year, and pregnant women must adhere to the recommended guidelines,” she added.
LVCT Health Senior Manager in charge of Policy Advocacy, HIV Technologies and Programme Management Patricia Jeckonia called for increased public awareness on HIV prevention and the new injection.
“There is need for enhanced awareness on HIV prevention and the importance of embracing the new injection to reduce new infections in Kilifi and across the country,” she said.
She noted that Kenya recorded 19,991 new HIV infections in 2024 and stressed the urgency of accelerating prevention efforts.
“As a country we have said that by 2030 we want to reduce new HIV infections to less than 1,000. We have a short time to reach this target and it is not a marathon, it is a sprint,” she said.
Kenya Red Cross officer Musalaam Ahmed said the new injection will encourage more young people to know their HIV status while reducing infections.
“This new prevention option will encourage more young people to get tested and help reduce the rapidly increasing infection rate,” he said.
Kenya is among the few countries in East Africa to adopt the new HIV prevention injection, with Kilifi among the first counties to roll out the programme targeting HIV-negative individuals.
The launch was attended by senior officials from the Kilifi County Department of Health and representatives from non-governmental organisations including LVCT Health and the Kenya Red Cross.
By Stephen Mrira
