Rongai sub-county public health officer Dominic Wanjohi has claimed that spread of the deadly H.I.V. and Aids disease among marginalised communities in the country is partly because of poverty.
According to Wanjohi, poverty forces women and young girls to indulge in irresponsible sexual activities that result to contraction of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in search of money for their upkeep.
Talking during a public health education forum that was attended by various women and youth groups at Rongai Health Centre in Nakuru County on Thursday, Wanjohi castigated that the deadly disease can be eliminated if rural and semi-urban people are empowered economically and socially.
He added that lack of information and awareness and protective devices like female condoms among rural people in the country adds salt to the injury in the spread of the disease.
“Most of our women and young girls are fascinated by good things which they cannot afford, hence get involved in unprotected and irresponsible sex with men who provide them with the things they desire,” said the health expert adding that the habit is dangerous because citing that conducted research revealed that poverty has greatly contributed to the spread of dangerous diseases like H.I.V. and Aids among others.
He added that women and young girls are vulnerable to contracting STDs because they comprise their dignity and self respect citing that the behaviour was encouraged by the fact that they are not economically and socially empowered to face challenges in life.
He said, “If we empower our women through socioeconomic endeavours like savings and educating them on health and business matters we can solve the spread of H.I.V. Aids which is rampant in our rural areas.’’