Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti wants committee formed to help fight HIV/Aids

HIV statistics rattles Homa Bay leadership, Governor orders formation of committee to fight against HIV/Aids

Homa Bay, Kenya: Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti has ordered the formation of an inter-ministerial committee to help coordinate a renewed fight against HIV/AIDS in the County.

Awiti also directed that the campaign against the disease be made a mandatory agenda in all public meetings to help scale up the awareness among the most vulnerable groups.

The Governor, however, clarified that although the county had the highest number of new infections in the country, the prevalence rate had dropped by 2 percent from 27.1 to 25.7 per cent in the past one year.

"We must win the war against HIV/AIDS in Homa Bay. The figures will not discourage us. I am in the front line in this fight and I am appealing to all leaders in the County to join me in this war," said Awiti.

He added: "We are appealing to our friends in the NGOs, corporate bodies and the National government to help us in this war. We need more resources to make Homa Bay an HIV free County."

The governor attributes the scourge to the influx of nomadic fishermen on Lake Victoria.

He was speaking at the county headquarters Saturday where he received Sh7million speed boat ambulance from a Non –Governmental Organization,  Aphia Plus.