Kitui County commemorated World AIDS Day on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at Kauwi Primary Grounds in Kitui West Sub-County. Representing the County Executive Committee Member for Health, Chief Officer Lynn Kitwan urged residents to come out in large numbers for HIV testing as part of the country’s commitment to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.
The theme for this year’s commemoration, “Promoting the Health and Well-being of Men and Boys,” underscored the vital role men and boys play in combating HIV. Chief Officer Kitwan highlighted concerning statistics, revealing that men accounted for 28% (76) of the estimated 276 new HIV infections in Kitui.
Furthermore, men contributed to more than half of the estimated 403 AIDS-related illnesses annually in the county. She also noted that the treatment interruption rate was higher among men (4.2%) compared to women (3.8%).
Kitui County ranks 15th nationally in the number of people living with HIV, with an estimated 27,598 individuals affected, according to the National Syndemic Disease Control Council. While Kitui’s HIV prevalence stands at 2.6%, lower than the national average of 3.7%, the burden among women remains higher at 3.8%, compared to 1.4% among men.
Chief Officer Kitwan identified several persistent challenges, including stigma, poverty, and sociocultural barriers, which continue to impede efforts to curb the spread of HIV in the county.
The Chief Officer also donated sanitary pads during the event, emphasizing the county’s commitment to the well-being and dignity of women and girls.
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