Residents of Mlolongo town in Machakos County will on Saturday meet to re-name a street within the town to reduce prostitution and improve its image.
Area assistant county commissioner David Mukungu said Madharau Street has a bad image due to high numbers of commercial sex workers operating along it 24/07.
Mukungu said increased prostitution along the street among others had led to high HIV prevalence rates among the residents.
He spoke during the World AIDS Day celebrations in Mlolongo town on Thursday.
“We will be renaming the Madharau Street to rebrand it and change people’s perceptions on businesses that take place around there, the name itself promotes prostitution not only along the street but in entire Mlolongo town,” said Mukungu.
Mukungu attributed the prevalence rate to high population and many activities which take place in the town during day and night.
“Mlolongo is a very busy town, track drivers are the main target of prostitutes because of nature of their work. Majority depend on lodgings to spend their nights while on transit. Track drivers encourage prostitution,” said Mukungu.
“We want to change the name of the street to any other which the public will settle on,” said Mukungu.
He said more youths in the town were infected since they are active and majority engage in risky sexual behaviors.
Mukungu said most of commercial sex workers operating on the street are between ages 15 and 35.
He urged the residents to take it a personal responsibility to sensitize the community on need to zero-rate HIV new infections through prevention.
Mukungu said people should seek VCT services so as to know their status and timely get necessary services from doctors and professional counselors irrespective of outcomes.
“As a government, we are doing everything possible to sensitize the community on HIV/AIDS, all should join hands in the fight against the pandemic,” said Mukungu.