Majority of people living with HIV/AIDS in West Pokot do not take ARVs drugs to fight the virus making the vulnerable and agents of transmission.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health out of over 5000 people living with the virus only about 3000 take drugs and follow instructions on diet.
The County has more than 6000 people staying with HIV, with a HIV prevalence rate of 1.6 %.
However mothers in the area are on the lead fighting HIV to curb and prevent mother to Child transmission.
Officer in charge of AIDS department at Kapenguria County hospital Nelly AChokor said that stigma and discrimination are the challenges in fighting HIV in the County as the infected people are perceived as bad omen in the society.
She called on residents to be the champions in the fight against HIV /AIDS epidemic spread.
She called on residents in the area to come and test HIV for them to know about their status.
“People should accept their status. Many people have no ability to come out public despite being HIV Positive. It is better for one to come out so that they can get help,” she said.
She called on the County and national governments to involve HIV positive people in programs to help them improve their lives.
She added that the County has 20 health facilities that offer HIV/AIDs service across the five Sub Counties.
County Health Executive Member for Health Leah Parklea said that they have put in place measures to make sure the HIV prevalence rate is reduced.
She cited stigma as the biggest challenge in the fight against the deadly disease.
She asked expectant mothers to keep on giving birth in hospitals.
She cited that stigma should be discouraged.
These statistics come as the World is expected to mark World AIDS day on Thursday this week.
