December 01 is the World Aids Day. [Photo/transgriot.blogspot.co.ke]
Parents of children who were born with HIV/AIDS have been urged to inform their children of their status, the moment they realize their children have become sexually active in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
Speaking at Kisumu’s Jomo Kenyatta grounds during an event to mark World Aids Day on Friday, Erick Okioma who is an official of the National Empowerment Network of People living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NEPHAK), said most youth are contracting AIDS through engaging in unprotected sex with HIV positive colleagues who are not aware of their status.
Okioma said it is the responsibility of a parent with an HIV positive child to pass the information to him/her early enough to avoid the spread of the virus.
“Sometimes children engage in unprotected sex at the back of their parents. Such cases lead to spread of HIV/AIDS simply because children who were unfortunately born with the virus are not aware of their status,” said Okioma.
Speaking at the same function, Gizzelle Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eugene Amoti said the national and county governments should focus on fighting drug abuse among youth, as a measure towards curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
“Most youths engage in unprotected sex probably when they are not in the right frame of mind after abuse of drugs. This leads to spread of HIV among youth,” said Amoti.
The World Aids Day is marked each December 1st since 1988, to carry out awareness of prevention measures and drumming up the massage of not stigmatizing HIV/AIDS survivors.
This year’s theme is My Health, My Right.