By Henry Owino
Nairobi, Kenya: Kenya joined the rest of the world in commemorating International AIDS Day at Kinoru Stadium in Meru County, the celebrations were echoed in various counties in the country.
There is good news in Kenya regarding the fight against HIV and AIDS, which reported its first case in 1984. Approximately 1.4 million people are living with HIV, and close to 1.3 million of those, 96% are on treatment.
Sadly, 248 people contract HIV every day, and 68,000 children between the ages of 0 and 14 are already living with the virus. Efforts are underway to ensure that no new infections occur, particularly in children, by 2027.
For 35 consecutive years, December 1st has been recognized around the world as World AIDS Day, a day to remember the ongoing fight against HIV and AIDS. This year’s AIDS Day, themed “Let Communities Lead,” seeks to involve communities in the fight against HIV.
Kenya Ministry of Health headed by Susan Nakhumicha presided over the national event held in Meru County. While Dr. Ruth Laibon-Masha, Chief Executive Officer of, National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) formerly recognized as the National AIDS Control Council in Kenya hosted the guests.
Kawira Mwangaza, the Meru County Governor, stated that the county has an estimated 30,000 people living with HIV. Of this number, 26,000 have been tested and 22,000 are on antiretroviral therapy (ART). She said that one of the major impediments to testing and treatment is the stigma associated with HIV.
“Meru County Government is seeking to help the national government’s commitment to end HIV infections in children by the year 2027,” Mwangaza asserted.
In Kenya, the first recorded case of HIV dates back to 1984 (39 years ago), and to date, the nation has mourned the loss of over 2 million lives to AIDS-related deaths since then.
“The Government of Kenya is dedicated to preventing the number of people living with HIV and AIDS from rising from its current level of nearly 1.4 million,” Nakhumicha said.
She urged Kenyans from all walks of life to end the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS and instead embrace people living with the diseases to help reduce the number of new infections.
“World AIDS Day serves as a reminder of the global struggle against HIV-related stigma, an opportunity to commemorate those lost to the epidemic, and a rallying call to commit to a future where HIV is no longer a public health threat,” Dr Laibon-Masha said.
Dr. Laibon-Masha recalled when patient zero was reported at World AIDS Day in 1988 provided a platform to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, marking its 35th commemoration this year, 2023. She said there are strategies the organization she leads has put in place to reach out to all infected people with treatment.
In Kenya HIV and AIDS was declared a national disaster in 1999 by then second President Daniel Arap Moi by the roadside. This was 15 years later after claiming the lives of many Kenyans despite committees that were formed to control its spread.
“HIV and AIDS is not just a serious threat to our social and economic development, it is a serious threat to our own existence, and every effort must be made to bring the problem under control,” said then-second President Daniel Arap Moi.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there has been substantial progress in addressing HIV and AIDS, due to medical research breakthroughs, expanded access to treatment and prevention, and a greater understanding of the virus. Despite the progress, HIV remains a major global public health problem.
Today, WHO has recorded 40.4 million people have died worldwide from the virus, and transmission is ongoing in all countries. The WHO African Region accounted for two-thirds of the 39 million people living with HIV at the end of 2022.
In 2022, 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes, and 1.3 million acquired HIV. In the same year, the percentages for diagnosis, treatment, and suppressed viral loads were 86%, 89%, and 93%, respectively.
By 2025, WHO objectives are that 95% of all people living with HIV should have a diagnosis, be on lifesaving Antiretroviral Treatment (ART), and achieve a suppressed viral load. On the other hand, data from joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) illustrates that in 2022, 29.8 million people were receiving HIV treatment globally, constituting 76% of the 39 million people living with HIV.
Progress has also been made in preventing mother-to-child transmission, with 82% of pregnant women living with HIV receiving antiretrovirals (ARVs) in 2022.
Despite the progress that has been made, HIV remains a major public health issue worldwide, according to the WHO. Approximately 9.2 million people do not have access to the HIV treatment they need, resulting in 1,700 deaths and 3,500 new infections each day.
The main goal of WHO is to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, and seeks to achieve 95-95-95 targets: 95% of people knowing their status, 95% diagnosed receiving ART, and 95% on treatment achieving suppressed viral loads.
