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The county government's fight against HIV and Aids has received a boost after an international organisation donated six testing machines worth Sh17.2 million.
The machines, which determine the concentration of the virus in the blood, were donated yesterday by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
They can also be used for early HIV diagnosis in children as well as test for tuberculosis.
Deputy Director of Health Kevin Osuri, Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino and MSF County Project Co-ordinator Hemmed Lukonge commissioned the equipment yesterday.
Speaking at Got Kojowi Health Centre in Ndhiwa, the leaders said the equipment would cushion residents from deaths caused by opportunistic infections resulting from Aids.
“Testing the viral load enables medics to know the right drugs to give HIV victims,” Mr Osuri said.
He said two of the machines were distributed to Ndhiwa Sub-County Hospital. Got Kojowi, Pala, Magina and Malela health centres got one each.
He expressed optimism that there would be no more delays in testing blood samples, which were previously taken to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital in Kisumu County.
Mr Lukonge said his organisation also donated five motorbikes for transporting blood samples from patients in remote areas to facilities that had the GeneXpert machine.
“We want the blood samples to arrive as quickly as possible to make medication more efficient,” he said.
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