The Nakuru County government has embarked on a project aimed at preventing HIV and Aids among adolescents and youths.
Nakuru Public Health Chief Officer Samuel King’ori said they will take the fight against HIV/Aids to public schools.
King'ori said the move is meant to reduce the prevalence rate from 4.2 to 4 per cent by 2022 as the country has been witnessing a worrying rise in the number of new infections among the youth.
The county will target mature minors, youth outside schools and those in higher learning institutions in order to encourage them to get tested for HIV while accessing comprehensive HIV information.
The county will also offer age-appropriate contraceptives and condoms to adolescents and young people.
Dr King’ori said sensitisation on HIV/Aids is key to young people as it will seek to end HIV stigma and encourage the youth to get tested and know their status.
Dr Stanley Wahome, a medical doctor and specialist at Karen Hospital Nakuru branch, encouraged the youth to abstain from sex.
Dr Wahome said health education is key in preventing the spread of the disease, adding that the country has improved in fighting HIV stigma.
“Every group of people needs to be made aware of HIV and those who actively engage in multiple sexual actions should be advised on the importance of safe sex. Introduction of pre-exposure HIV drugs and efficiency of the antiretrovirals (ARVs) has brought a bigger change,” said Dr Wahome as quoted by the Nation.