First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on Thursday led Kenyans in celebrating the World Aids Day with reports that the country has made significant progress against the scourge.
Unlike two decades ago in 1996, when the HIV/Aids prevalence stood at a staggering 10.5 per cent, a multi-institutional war against the disease and high level political commitment have now reduced the prevalence to 5.9 per cent.
“We have seen progress. Incredible progress. And that is thanks to the concerted, multi-institutional, multi-faceted efforts we have made," said the First Lady during the celebrations at the Nyayo National Stadium Nairobi.
Kenya’s efforts and positive gains against the scourge had earlier been appreciated by the United Nations Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS, Dr Luiz Loures who hailed the multi-faced initiatives againt HIV including the Beyond Zero drive under the patronage of the First Lady.
The First Lady singled out the availability of Anti-Retroviral Drugs , reduction of mother-to-child transmissions, stepped-up preventative efforts, reduction of stigma and discrimination, increased HIV education and awareness and expansion of access to testing service as key components to Kenya’s success against the disease.
“These are efforts we can be proud of; efforts which have saved lives, spared countless children the pain of living without parents, and empowered HIV positive citizens across the country to live vibrant, productive lives”, said the First Lady.
She said these efforts have seen HIV infection move from being a death sentence, to being a disease over which hundreds of thousands of individuals can claim daily victotories.
“So as we take stock today, we can be grateful for the strides we have made as a country; and we can appreciate the parallel strides that have been made globally”, added the First Lady.
By 2015, the country had an estimated 1.5 million people living positively with HIV/Aids.
The First Lady however cautioned that these positive gains should not mean that the journey against the disease is over.
“While we have no doubt emerged victorious in many battles over the years, the war has not yet been won. Thousands of people still die from HIV. Thousands of new infections are registered every year. And too many HIV positive individuals still lack access to Anti-Retroviral Drugs," said the First Lady.
She was also saddened by the emerging and troubling trends where the country is witnessing particularly high infections among teenagers and young adults aged between 15-24 years with girls being at high risk.
“As a predominantly young country, heavily reliant on our youth; and as a country which hopes to capitalize on the potential of women, we have to recognize that these trends are untenable and threaten to erode all the gains we have made, nationally, in the struggle against this pernicious disease," said the First Lady.
She called on all Kenyans to step-up the fight against Aids along the new frontiers concerning the youth.
The new battle-lines, she said, must include educating the youth about their sexual activities and drugs , step up efforts to reduce mother-to-child transmissions and step down stigma and discrimination amongst those infected and affected.
The new efforts against the disease will also include improved access the healthcare, to anti-retroviral drugs and the involvement of all partners , she said
“HIV has made an enemy of all of us. And it is only when all of us come together, that we have any hope of finally getting to zero—zero new infections and zero HIV related deaths."
The First Lady was optimistic that victory over the disease is on sight, both for our country and globally, to create a HIV-free generation.
“We just need to keep pressing on; pushing on and refusing to cede any ground back to this disease," she said.
Part of the celebrations were two football tournaments-for both boys and girls- and the recognition of several counties that have initiated visible programs aimed at reducing HIV prevalence in the regions.
Football teams from West Pokot (Boys) and Kajiado (Girls) Counties took home trophies and Shs 1 million each for winning their respective matches.
Other counties recognized for progressive initiatives against HIV included Turkana, Kiambu, Kisumu and Nairobi which received another Sh 1 million for emerging tops for its HIV education and awareness programmes through its HIV champions.
Others who addressed the ceremony included Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Cleopa Mailu, Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony who represented the Council of Governors, Acting Director of Medical Services Dr. Jackson Kioko and Ms Angeline Siparo , the chairperson of the National Aids Control Council (NACC).