Angeline Yiamiton, chairperson of National AIDS Control Council (NACC) has confirmed that strategies have been put in place to tackle HIV/AIDS menace. One is the Faith Sector action plan, a religious conglomerate, working round the clock in helping in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
According to an analysis, 97% of Kenyan population have ascribed to a religious affiliation and so she said Faith Sector has a wide reach cut across from the national to county and the grass root level. “Religious leaders should take advantage of the remaining duration of two weeks to International AIDS day to educate Kenyans during the preaching in churches,” said Angeline.
According to analysis, the total number of people living with Aids is 1,517,705, among them 98,169 children, 91,350 adolescent and 1,419,536 adults, explained Dr Nduku Kilonzo, the director of NACC, adding that the highest prevalence stands at 25.7% in Homa Bay County, while Wajir posted the lowest level, standing at 0.2%.
Furthermore, youths aged between 15-24 years are more susceptible to get the disease to infection of HIV. Angeline said the stigmatization and discrimination that patients receive from the friends and families is worse than the illness itself. She encouraged Faith Sector and the church leaders to use their role and counsel and encourage them to go for testing. The Faith Sector urges Kenyans to support and offer care and encourage one another in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The NACC has coordinated with other sectors to guide, plan and prioritize the implementations of interventions.