Kisii County has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates, new report says.

According to the Kenya Prevention Revolution Road map, Kisii County has a HIV prevalence of 8%. It is estimated that 63,715 people are living with HIV of which 7,715 are children. The HIV prevalence in women is higher standing at 8.5% than that of men which stands at 7.3%. Annual new infections stands at 5,976 (DHIS; Kenya HIV County Profile 2014).

Currently, Kisii County is among the counties with relatively high HIV prevalence.  According to the HIV and AIDS Profile Kisii is ranked at number 42 out of 47 counties in terms of the HIV burden. The drivers to the HIV epidemic in Kisii County are generally understood to include: Key populations such as sex workers (female, male & transgender), casual heterosexual sex, some socio-cultural practices like “house entering” where widows exchange sexual partners, casual laborers, soapstone carvers, banana/sugarcane sellers, Adolescents and young women (cross generational sex) and Stigma and discrimination of People Living with HIV.

According to the Kenya Fast Track Plan to End HIV and AIDS among Adolescents and Young People 2015, in Kisii County it is estimated that 13,079 adolescents and young people aged 15-24 years are living with the virus, while approximately 5,012 do not know their HIV status and could be contributing to the new infections in this age group.

HIV/AIDS has a major socio-economic impact in the County, it poses a negative impact on the agricultural sub-sector which is a major economic activity employing over 80% of the County’s population. HIV/AIDS related mortality of the skilled and experienced staff and farmers has resulted in low production particularly of food crops. This has affected food security at household and county level.

Kisii County must double its efforts in HIV prevention to turn off the tap of new infections. Kisii County must implement its HIV & AIDS STRATEGIC PLAN 2014/15 – 2018/19 to the latter.

The main objectives of the Kisii County HIV & AIDS STRATEGIC PLAN 2014/15 – 2018/19  include: To increase access to health care services for HIV prevention, To strengthen community and health systems capacity for Universal Access to quality, comprehensive and sustainable HIV and AIDS services, To effectively coordinate, harmonize and align stakeholder support to the County response at all levels, To strengthen and sustain political leadership and commitment on HIV and AIDS at all levels, To improve the ethical and legal environment to support the County response, To strengthen the information management system of the County response to enhance information sharing and utilization, To increase access to HIV and AIDS comprehensive quality treatment, care and support services, To enhance County ownership of the HIV response by allocation of resources in the  implementation of the KCHASP, To promote non-discriminatory delivery of HIV services to vulnerable and key population.

When the HIV & AIDS STRATEGIC PLAN is implemented to the latter then we are more likely to see change. The outcome will be, improved utilization of health care services for HIV prevention, improved access to quality HIV and AIDS services, improved access to comprehensive quality treatment, care and support services, communities empowered to effectively respond to HIV and AIDS just to mention a few.