Four counties unite to create HIV/AIDS awareness
What you need to know:
- Dr Donald Jaleny, Migori county chief officer in charge of health said on Wednesday that the county had allocated Sh17 million in the war against HIV/AIDS.
- Migori county was ranked fourth in the 47 counties with a total of 8,282 new HIV infections by end of 2014.
- Dr Lawrence Oteng, Homa Bay county executive member for health said the allocation set aside for HIV prevention is still at the county assembly for approval.
Four counties in Nyanza have allocated more than Sh36 million in their budgets for HIV and AIDS awareness amidst rise in new infections among adolescents.
Migori, Kisumu, Siaya and Homa Bay counties have been ranked among the top 10 counties with the highest number of new infections according to the National Aids Control Council and Ministry of Health 2014 reports.
Dr Donald Jaleny, Migori county chief officer in charge of health said on Wednesday that the county had allocated Sh17 million in the war against HIV/AIDS.
He said that Sh10 million would be used for the control of the virus and purchase of antiretroviral drugs while Sh7 million is going to be used to create awareness, health education and promotion.
“We are also collaborating with more donors and partners to ensure that the HIV prevalence in the county is reduced from the current 14 per cent to seven per cent by 2016,” Dr Jaleny said on phone.
Migori county was ranked fourth in the 47 counties with a total of 8,282 new HIV infections by end of 2014.
Dr Elizabeth Ogaja, County executive member of health for Kisumu County, said they have set aside Sh19 million for HIV prevention and promoting health service programmes related to HIV and Aids.
“We are implementing a programme on the prevention and promotion of health services which include the activities that people engage in that can be avoided to stop the spread of the virus,” Dr Ogaja said in a phone interview.
She also expressed concern about the rise of new infections among the adolescents saying the figures were worrying.
Dr Lawrence Oteng, Homa Bay county executive member for health said the allocation set aside for HIV prevention is still at the county assembly for approval.
“The budget has not been passed by the assembly yet but we have set aside an amount for control and prevention,” Dr Oteng said on phone yesterday.
However, Siaya County health county director Dr Omondi Owino said they do not have a specific budget for HIV prevention.
