World AIDS Day is marked across the globe on December 1 each year, to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. The theme for the 2014 World AIDS Day was ‘Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS Free Generation.’ Current global HIV trends are encouraging showing a reduction in the HIV infection rate.. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), since the beginning of the epidemic, 78 million people have been infected and 39 million have died of HIV and related infections. Currently, about 35 million people are living with HIV worldwide; 3.2 million of them are children under the age of 15.
71% of people living with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa, translating to 24.7 million people living with HIV in 2013. According to the Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey (KAIS 2013), HIV prevalence among adults aged 15-64 years stood at 5.6%. This was a decrease compared to the KAIS 2007 findings, where the prevalence was 7.2%. This trend is part of the gains made by the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders especially in the Elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission (EMTCT) of HIV.
EMTCT
The EMTCT agenda is at the forefront of CHS activities. During this year’s World AIDS Day commemoration event in Laikipia County, 96 HIV negative babies born of HIV positive mothers had a special graduation ceremony at the Nyahururu District Hospital.
His Excellency Joshua Irungu, Governor Laikipia County, Her Excellency Grace Wakahora, First Lady, Laikipia County, Dr Donald Mugoi, County Director of Health, Laikipia County and Dr Lawrence Kamade, Medical Superintendent at Nyahururu District Hospital were in attendance.
His Excellency the Governor made special mention of CHS and recognised the contribution towards achievement of better quality health services through a strengthened health system in Laikipia County and particularly at Nyahururu District Hospital. The Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) clinic at this facility has been supported by CHS for more than three years though the TEGEMEZA project, with funding from US President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Laikipia County marked World AIDS day with an appreciation of the gains made in HIV prevention, care and treatment in the county. The day’s events began with a procession in Nyahururu town that culminated at the Nyahururu Stadium. Information about HIV prevention, access to HIV testing and counselling services and anti-stigma messages were shared with the public through the event.
Launch of Maina Village Dispensary
In addition to marking this year’s World AIDS Day, Maina Village Dispensary was officially opened to the public. This dispensary is now one of the HIV care and treatment sites in Laikipia County. The County Health Management Team members were present led by the County Executive Committee.
Her Excellency, the First Lady of Laikipia County, Grace Wakahora was the chief guest during the opening of the facility. She urged all HIV positive clients to accept their status and mobilise the rest from the community to get tested. She encouraged those who test positive to be enrolled into the HIV care and treatment immediately.
Maina Village Dispensary is located within the urban settlements of Nyahururu town. This health facility is expected to reduce the pressure for health services at Nyahururu District Hospital. During its opening, the facility enrolled five clients; two of them were enrolled under the PMTCT program. The County Health Management Team appreciated the support they have received from CHS.
Her Excellency Grace Wakahora congratulated the mothers of the graduating HIV Exposed Infants (HEI) for the good care they have beengiving to their babies. She urged the two facilities to work towards EMTCT.
HEI HIV Infection Trends
Joseph Mwangi, a CHS supported PMTCT Clinician at Nyahururu District Hospital presented the HEI HIV infection trends from 2013. The data revealed that there were zero infections in 2013 while in 2014 only two infants turned positive: though the parents of these two infants had begun their care in other facilities.
Through the TEGEMEZA project, CHS supports health facilities in Central Kenya to deliver quality and sustainable health services to the community. Achieving 100% EMTCT is almost a reality.
In 2012, Nyahururu District Hospital received the CHS Excellence Award for Provision of PMTCT and Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) services, and the 2013 Award for PMTCT, being among the CHS supported sites that have hit their EMTCT targets for the year. The other sites that have hit their targets include Murang’a District Hospital, Gatundu District Hospital, Karatina District Hospital Kangema Sub-District Hospital and Kangari Health Centre.
CHS continues to partner with the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Health to support better quality health services. Through the TEGEMEZA project, CHS supports 191 health facilities in five counties of Central Kenya. CHS is committed to the achievement of sustainable and quality health services through leadership and dedication to health system strengthening.