Sex workers contribute to 15% of the new HIV infections in Kenya annually as total percentage of infections resulting from all risky sexual behaviour along Kenyan Highways stands at 30%.
Addressing press in Athi River, Machakos County yesterday, Dr.Nyaga Lilly, former MOH Athi River District, disclosed the statistics she attributed to a 2010 AIDS NASCOP report.
Dr.Nyaga said the sex workers alongside men having sex with men, and those who injected themselves with drugs were the most vulnerable to new infections as they were exposed to the virus.
She said rehabilitation and emporwerment of sex workers was the sure way of helping women who had decided to move out of streets have descent lives and gar them from returning to the streets.
According to her, Voluntary Counseling and Testing, condom distribution and community sensitization and awareness on HIV alone were not enough to help reduce the prevalence of the infection.
She said it was iomportant to all stakeholders fighting towards achieving zero rating of HIV new infectings across the country to address root causes of the infections for effective interventions and avoid duplication of services provided as far as HIV services were concerned.