HIV/Aids patients in Kiambu have been advised to reveal their status to triumph against stigmatisation and reduce transmission of the virus.
Speaking to press in his office on Tuesday, the Kiambu County Hospital Superintendent, David Kariuki said that according to the statistics at the health facility, out of every 100 patients, seven are living with HIV/Aids.
He added that the number of people affected in Kiambu has stagnated at 3.8% for the past two years saying it was now a big worry since many of those infected were between 18-40 years.
He said if such figures continue to be registered in the hospital which acts as a referral from other health institutions in the county, then the manpower of the county would be overstretched.
He says with the majority infected being the youthful population, there is a risk of increasing dependency ratios especially if they do not seek treatment.
“Youth should reduce the number of their sexual partners and parents should be open to their children and guide them appropriately concerning matters of Aids and also the media should give the right forum according to the age and programmes targeted to the youth” he said.
He says if people living with HIV/Aids revealed their status to their sexual partners and took measures to protect them from infection the fight against the spread of the disease would be won.
He however said few people are visiting Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) centres to get tested saying this was a major contributor to the spread of the virus.
“To reduce cases of HIV, people should be aware of their status and also be ready to protect their spouses,” he said.