Invest more in behaviour change campaigns to reduce HIV infections

As Kenyans marked World Aids Day last Friday, the conversation was more centred on medication to reduce opportunities for HIV infection rather than the relatively stagnant infection rates. And although the national infection rate — hovering at about five per cent — has continued to concern health experts, there has been less emphasis on how quickly to roll our interventions to reduce risky behaviour.

Today, the emphasis is to provide preventive drugs than it is to offer treatment and develop health facilities. At the bottom of the chain are behaviour change HIV prevention activities anchored on abstention and faithfulness.