Sunday, November 5 marked the end of a two-day targeted community testing activity held in Murang’a County. In collaboration with the County Department of Health in Murang’a, CHS carried out this activity targeting matatu drivers, touts and boda boda riders at Kenol and Kangare town.
Targeted community testing involves identifying a group of people that are at a high risk of HIV and setting up HIV testing and counselling services close to them where they can access them at their convenience. For this outreach activity, mobile clinics were set up at the busy matatu terminals at Kenol and Kangare town. Over 350 people received HIV testing and counselling services. Those that tested positive for HIV were linked to Kangari, Kambiti and Kirwara health facilities for care and treatment.
“I have always wanted to know my HIV status but I was afraid of going to the hospital for fear of meeting with people I know and because I have no time. Bringing this service right outside our place of work has helped us save on time and has also given us a chance to motivate each other to know our status,” said Peter Njoroge a tout from Murang’a.
CHS is committed towards increasing the number of people who know their HIV status and more so, the identification of HIV positive individuals. This is critical to achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets by 2020; 90% of all people living with HIV know their HIV status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy achieve viral suppression.
Despite the rain and cold weather, the testing and counselling services still went on
