HIV and Aids prevalence has reduced from 7.2 to 5.6 per cent in the last five years, the 2012 Kenya Aids Indicator Survey has revealed. The survey carried out by the National Aids and STI Control Programme from 2007 to 2012 shows that 5.6 per cent of adults aged 15-64 and 0.9 per cent of children are living with the virus.
Despite the improvement, health experts are calling for a more proactive approach in fighting HIV. Kenya is ranked fourth globally among nations that are hardest hit by the pandemic, behind South Africa, India and Nigeria. About 1.2 million people are said to be living with the virus, even as statistics indicate that 72 per cent of the population has undergone counselling and testing.
About 95,000 new infections are reported annually countrywide. Speaking yesterday at the Laico Regency while launching the report, the Health Cabinet Secretary, James Macharia challenged players combating the disease to redouble their efforts to push the burden lower. Macharia emphasised the need for concerted efforts in educating the public on HIV prevention and control, saying bridging the knowledge gap will reduce infection rates.
"You need to use your comparative advantage to provide accurate knowledge and disseminate relevant information to the public to advocate for positive behaviour change for maximum impact," he said. According to the KAIS report, Nyanza is still leading in the prevalence at 15.1 per cent, a figure that is nearly three times higher than the national prevalence. This is in spite of programmes such as male circumcision being rolled out in the region.
