NAIROBI 13. August: Kenya continues to register impressive progress on the war against HIV/Aids. New statistics released by the National Aids Control Council (NACC) show a significant decline in both HIV prevalence and new infections.
Prevalence has declined from 6,1 per cent in 2004 and 5,9 per cent in 2005 to 5,1 percent in 2006. The current data shows that urban prevalence is about 8,3 per cent compared to rural areas 4 per cent. New infections have also declined from 85.000 in 2004, 60.000 in 2005 to 55.000 in 2006.
Most new infections occur among young people.
NACC director, Prof Alloys Orago, said Kenya was one of the three countries in Africa where HIV/Aids intervention had registered significant progress.
The number of deaths in Kenya due to HIV/Aids have drastically reduced from an all time high of 120.000 in 2003 to about 85.000 in 2006, a factor Orago attributed to use of antiretroviral therapy (ART).
– It (120,000) would have stayed at roughly that level for the next three years but the increasing number of people receiving ART has reduced the annual number of Aids deaths to about 85.000, stated Orago.
He said ART programmes have averted about 57.000 deaths since 2001.
The NACC chairman, Prof Miriam Were, attributed the progress to a well co-ordinated national intervention programme that had brought together all stakeholders to effectively contribute in fighting HIV/Aids.
Were said that there was a remarkable behavioural change among the youth with more now abstaining as well as delaying their sex debut.
In addition to reducing their sex partners, adults have also increased use of condoms, she said. However, Orago was quick to point out that the decline in prevalence, since the 1990s when it hit an all time high of 9 per cent, did not mean the problem of HIV/ Aids was over.
– These figures illustrate the magnitude of the inherent task in providing prevention, treatment, care and support services to ensure universal access, noted Orago.
Despite the impressive progress, the war against HIV/Aids is far from being won and there are still many challenges to be overcome. Over 1.5 million pregnant women need counselling and testing each year. This calls for more counsellors and reagents for testing.
More drugs and personnel are needed to provide treatment to 68.000 women to prevent mother-to-child-transmission, he said.
Kilde: The Push Journal
