Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has launched Kenya Network of HIV positive teachers (KENEPOTE) in Kisumu County to harness the fight against HIV/AIDS getting to zero.

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Speaking at Kisumu Boys High School TSC CEO Gabriel Lengoiboni said that 5.6 percent of 280,000 teachers are living with HIV/AIDS, and that 25 percent are members of Kenepote.

“A quarter of these who number 4,000 are members of the Kenya Network of HIV positive Teachers," said Lengoiboni.

He said that the Kenepote has reached 19 counties, including Kisumu to sensitize 108,781 teachers.

Speaking in the same event, Kenya National Union of Teacher (KNUT) Kisumu branch chairman Olando Kwach said that the statistics of teachers who died of HIV related illness was 64.

“We are concerned. The 64 teachers would have gone through HIV management treatment they would be alive today," said Kwach.

Kwach said that TSC should develop strategy to deal with issues of discrimination, stigma towards teachers and students living with HIV/AIDS in Kisumu.

“Through Kenepote, we will eliminate HIV deaths, zero stigmatization and have zero new HIV infection," said Kisumu KNUT chairman.

Kenepote Kisumu chairman Caleb Ochieng said that there are gaps that need to be addressed in the fight against HIV.

Ochieng said that widow inheritance is a gap that still raises HIV prevalence in Kisumu County.