Siaya records low mother-to-child HIV transmission

Women living with HIV are being engaged in discussions on the importance of adhering to drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission at Ringa area, Kabondo Kasipul Constituency in Homa Bay County on June 18, 2024. [Anne Atieno, Standard] 

Siaya County has registered lower rates of HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, a report by the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) has revealed.

According to the 2023 report, the county recorded the lowest mother-to-child HIV transmission rate from 21 per cent to 4.3 per cent, compared to the national rate of 8.6 per cent.

This has been attributed to the partnership between the county government and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The partnership has registered impressive results in the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT).

Speaking during a meeting with Governor James Orengo, the CDC Global Health Center Director Kayla Laserson said they are happy to see positive progress realised from the interventions of their partnership.

"Siaya county has been very instrumental in research work targeting malaria, TB, and HIV. Its results have helped develop key policies that were transforming the health sector and that is why we are here to identify gaps, and priorities that will support the gains achieved and be sustained,” said Dr Laserson.

She appreciated the partners for working closely with the government to reduce the negative health indicators of TB, malaria, and HIV, saying that CDC/Kemri interventions have significantly reduced the HIV transmission to children in Siaya.

Laserson revealed that many interventions designed and executed in Siaya are now global policy and the county and Kenya are promoting global public health.

Governor Orengo appealed to the health partners to continue the programme on the diseases and consider expanding their support to other diseases burdening the county.

“We hope that the programme will continue because we are much behind our targets in terms of healthcare. Matters to do with HIV is one of the biggest success stories especially on PMTCT,” said Orengo.

The governor also attributed the achievement to great support from Kemri/CDC.

“The 19 per cent is still high compared to neighboring counties but we hope with continued cooperation and collaboration we’ll be in a much better place,” he said.

He, however, faulted the national government for starving counties, especially the health sector where huge resources are held yet they concentrate on policy issues.

"Our health records are fully digitised with viable digital system put in place that enables easy trace of the patients on treatment and statistics on the progress of the healthcare activities. Currently, Siaya's HIV prevalence is 13.2 per cent which is equivalent to 97,000 patients who are on care," he said.

Previous studies conducted by Human Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) indicated that the prevalence of HIV among the fishing community is as high as 31 per cent.

Siaya HIV coordinator Silvia Imbuye said for sustainability, they have embraced the Government-to-Government (G-to-G) strategy.

“Currently we have 49 sites being supported by G-to-G which is a very strong stride towards sustainability. In the 97,000 patients under care in Siaya almost a third are patients handled through G-to-G facilities,” said Imbuye.

She revealed that through the Department of Health, they are doing mentorship programmes as part of sustainability initiatives.