Residents of Nakuru County on Sunday joined the World in marking World Aids Day with calls for concerted effort in fighting stigma against those infected.
Speaking during the event held at Kamkunji grounds, Nakuru East sub-county, Nakuru County CEC for Health Dr Gichuki Kariuki called for the need for more sensitization.
He noted that HIV prevalence in Nakuru County has reduced from 4.1% in 2015 to 3.4% and new infections among young people 15-24 years have reduced from 455 in 2015 to 374 in 2018.
Furthermore, he indicated that total AIDS-related deaths reduced from 1406 in 2015 to 1255 in 2018.
The CEC said that Nakuru county has shown a remarkable improvement in HIV service delivery with currently as per KHIS September 2019, the overall testing uptake stood at 78%, those on ART at 87% and virally suppressed at 87% respectively.
According to Dr Gichuki, communities play a key role in the fight against the disease hence called for more sensitization. He also appealed to all women to ensure they attend Antenatal care-ANC to ensure elimination in the next generation.
"As we work towards a HIV free generation, we should have all women attend four ANC visits to ensure elimination in the next generation. We are either infected or affected and that is why we call for concerted efforts" he said.
During the event, the CEC also launched a book guideline on Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-eMTCT for Nakuru county as a way of addressing the high rate of eMTCT occasioned by stigma.
It is for this reason that the CEC called on stakeholders to invest in interventions tailored towards HIV testing and people knowing their status and preventing further infections.
"I urge stakeholders to invest in interventions tailored towards HIV testing and people knowing their status and preventing further infections," said Dr.Gichuki.
Sentiments echoed by Biashara Ward administrator Samuel Rotich calling on locals to be ambassadors of good messages aimed sensitizing the public by sharing information. He also appealed to the society to shun stigma but rather embrace those who are infected.
"Let's all be ambassadors in sensitizing about HIV," he said.
This is the 31st celebration of the day since the world started marking this day. A similar event was also organized in other sub-counties of Nakuru.
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