HIV infections in Kenya are on the rise: Injectable Drugs
HIV infections in Kenya are on the rise: Injectable Drugs
In Kenya, where AIDS-related mortality rank sixth worldwide, injectable medications have been associated with an increase in HIV infections. Data from the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC) published at the beginning of the year indicated that about 26,000 Kenyans used injectable medicines, and 18,400 of them passed away from AIDS.
NSDCC CEO Ruth Masha criticized injectable drug usage during a pre-conference on Thursday, citing it as a primary cause of the high rate of infections in the nation.”One of the issues we are facing is the spread of HIV among those who inject drugs. They need to get to a place where there is a legal structure in order to be able to obtain treatment because this practice is criminalized, according to Masha.
According to data from the report, Mombasa reported 2,599 cases, Nairobi recorded 9,722, and Kwale county reported 2,712 cases. These are the counties with the highest prevalence of injectable drug usage. Murang’a recorded 211, Kiambu recorded 408,592, and Kisumu recorded 408,592.Masha did concede, though, that Kenya had made strides, noting a decline in the yearly number of new infections from 100,000 in 2013 to 22,000 in 2022.
As part of the agreement with the Global Fund, President William Ruto pledged to eradicate the disease’s prevalence in children by 2027, placing the government at the forefront of the fight against HIV/AIDS.At the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) 2023 20th Anniversary Celebration in Kenya on Thursday, William Ruto announced that the government will gradually increase domestic financing towards HIV management. Ruto made this statement at the Kenya National Library Service.
“To avoid supply disruptions, we as the government have increased our financial injection into the HIV commodity pipeline by Ksh 1 billion over the past two years,” Ruto said.The Ministry of Health echoed this year’s theme, Let Communities Lead, by highlighting the critical role that communities play in the battle against HIV/AIDS on December 1st, which is World AIDS Day.
“Communities are the driving force for change in the complicated issues of HIV/AIDS. The breakthroughs in prevention, treatment, and support systems are largely due to their collective expertise, resilience, and advocacy. According to MoH, “empowering communities isn’t just a catchphrase; it’s a basic strategy for creating inclusive, sustainable solutions.”
