HIV/AIDS Cases Reduce in Kakamega Due to ARV Use

By Strilus Bellbut
Kakamega County Director of Medical Services, Dr. Stephen Wandeyi, has pledged to partner with USAID to further reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in the county.
This follows the realization that HIV/AIDS remains a significant challenge for the Ministry of Health.
Speaking on Tuesday during a stakeholders' meeting hosted by USAID partners in Kakamega town, Dr. Wandeyi commended the Kakamega County government for its leadership in combating HIV/AIDS.
He highlighted that the county’s efforts have significantly reduced the prevalence of the virus, particularly by ensuring patients receive proper guidance and counseling to learn about their health status.
“Those who test negative are advised on preventive measures to remain safe, while those who test positive are trained on how to use ARVs and maintain a balanced diet,” he explained.
In past years, AIDS was seen as a death sentence, but now dispensaries, health centers, and the County Referral Hospital are fully stocked with ARVs, offering hope to many patients.
Dr. Wandeyi noted, however, that mother-to-child transmission of HIV remains a significant challenge, with a still-high percentage of pregnant women transmitting the virus to their newborns.
Expressing his gratitude to the county government for providing adequate ARV supplies, Dr. Wandeyi added that newborn babies are immediately placed on treatment to prevent them from becoming HIV-positive.
The capacity-building workshop aimed to strategize on community engagement, focusing on households, dispensaries, health centers, level-four hospitals, and the County Referral Hospital, to ensure people know their HIV status and attend clinics regularly. The county government’s goal is that, by 2030, no baby should be born with the virus.
Dr. Wandeyi also emphasized that while mother-to-child transmission has decreased to two percent, sexual transmission remains the primary mode of HIV spread.
He urged married couples to remain faithful, and pointed out that youth are particularly at high risk, with the department of medical services planning to engage in behavior change programs in communities, schools, and colleges.
Dr. Habel Agonya, a USAID partner, reaffirmed USAID's support for Kakamega in the fight against HIV, including backing the Ministry of Health in raising awareness so that people know their status and those who test positive are quickly linked to treatment.
“Those on treatment are encouraged to continue taking ARVs to reduce their viral load and prevent transmission to others,” he said.
The five-year project, covering the seven counties of the Lake Region Economic Bloc, addresses HIV awareness, tuberculosis, gender-based violence, and orphan support.
Dr. Agonya revealed that while HIV rates in the country have drastically reduced, it is time to start focusing on sustainability, as partners are gradually stepping back and budgets are being reduced.
He further noted that adolescents aged 15 to 24 years and men aged 35 to 40 have particularly high HIV positivity rates, underscoring the need for targeted interventions in these groups.