Kenya joins the global community in commemorating World AIDS Day on December 1, 2015.
World AIDS Day is an annual global advocacy platform that seeks to reflect on the gains made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, demonstrate international solidarity for people living with HIV/AIDS, and to commemorate the spirit of those who have died battling the deadly disease.
Under the theme Getting to Zero; end AIDS by 2030, this year’s commemoration seeks to fast-track actions from international bodies, governments and local partners towards ending the HIV epidemic by 2030, in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda.
Run by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of its global public health campaigns, World Aids Day was the first ever-global health day and is currently in its 28th edition.
HIV Statistics
According to UNAIDS data, approximately 36.9 million people were living with HIV globally by the end of 2014. Of these, 15.8 million (43%) had access to antiretroviral therapy (ARV) as of June 2015, up from 13.6 million people recorded in June 2014. New HIV infections have fallen by 35% since 2000, with those among children declining by 58% during the same period.
Although Tuberculosis-related deaths have fallen by 32% since 2004, TB still remains as the leading cause of death among people living with HIV (PLHIV).
This data also shows that approximately 70% of the people living with HIV worldwide are living in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP) estimates that there are 1.6 million PLHIV’s in Kenya today, with the higher population constituting of women (57%). Children (14 years and below) account for 10% of the total HIV burden in the country.
The Role of CHS in Reversing the HIV Epidemic
Through its Tegemeza Project, CHS seeks to provide high quality HIV prevention, care and treatment and TB/HIV services in Central Kenya. This project is supported by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Through this project, CHS supports 105 health facilities in five counties of Central Kenya – Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyandarua, Nyeri and Laikipia – through:
- HIV Counselling and Testing
- Adult and Paediatric Care and Treatment
- Community Health
- Health Systems Strengthening
- Maternal and Child Health
Since the inception of the project in 2011, 36,976 clients have been initiated on ARV, over 800 medical professionals, health care workers and volunteers have been engaged and supported to complement the provision of HIV services, and four centres of excellence created across various facilities in these counties.
Our Call to All
On this day, CHS encourages everyone to be involved in the on-going fight against HIV/AIDS, beyond this one-day commemoration. As an individual, we encourage you to:
- Get the Facts – Ignorance about HIV often leads to stigmatisation and unnecessary deaths. We encourage everyone to learn the basics of HIV and AIDS, take steps to protect themselves and others, and also to talk about what they learn with their friends and others around them
- Get Tested – According to CDC, nearly one in five persons with HIV does not know their status, and they can unknowingly pass on the virus to others. Getting an HIV test, knowing one’s HIV status, and encouraging friends, family, and the community to do the same are important steps in preventing the spread of HIV.
- Get Involved – If you or someone you know is affected by HIV, you can get involved by telling your story, which may go a long way in encouraging others, and help fight the stigma associated with HIV. You could also support a person living with HIV/AIDS by offering physical support to them – talking and listening to them is a great place to start. You could also support our HIV care and treatment program here.
