World AIDS Day 2021 Commemorated
AMPATH partners joined the rest of the world in commemorating World AIDS Day 2021 on December 1 to raise awareness against the disease, especially during the COVID era. Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) and USAID AMPATH Uzima counties, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, held education and awareness events.
The focus of the campaign was "End inequalities. End AIDS. End pandemics. End teenage pregnancies towards eliminating inequalities and new HIV infections." The Kiswahili version and the trending terminology is "Komesha mimba za Utotoni."
AMPATH Director of Care Professor Sylvester Kimaiyo and Governor Alex Tolgos examine a display on World AIDS Day
Elgeyo Marakwet County
One highlight for the day was witnessed in Elgeyo Marakwet County at Cheptongei center in Marakwet West Sub-County where students and residents marched in massive numbers to celebrate. Speaking during the event, Governor Alex Tolgos said that the county experienced a surge in teenage pregnancies when schools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic period. He further commented this was an indicator of unsafe sex that not only leads to early pregnancies, but also puts the girls at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and even cancer of the cervix owing to HPV (human papillomavirus) infection. The department of health, according to the county chief, announced that the county will start conducting community dialogue days to sensitize and empower the community on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancies and also provide sanitary pads among other interventions.
Trans Nzoia County
In Trans Nzoia County, the event was presided over by Deputy Governor Dr. Stanley Tarus who commenced the day with an engaging meeting at the County Hall which brought together hundreds of people living with HIV and stakeholders such as USAID AMPATH Uzima and other partners. A lively march through the town followed the meeting, attracting thousands of Kitale residents. The organizers distributed condoms to the bystanders and welcomed them for an education session on issues about HIV held at the open-air market.
It was noted that USAID AMPATH Uzima’s Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) project has managed to bring down the teenage pregnancies in the county from an alarming 40 percent to 29 percent within 5 months (April- September 2021) with a potential of doing better going forward.
Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital
Chief Executive Officer of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Dr. Wilson K. Aruasa MBS, EBS, led hospital staff and several volunteer groups in commemorating World AIDS Day using the theme “End new HIV infections, End Teenage pregnancies, Stop Gender Based Violence (GBV).”
In his remarks, Dr. Aruasa said MTRH will continue to execute its mandate as a national/international hospital to sensitize the public on HIV prevention and in medical treatment of those infected and affected.
“We join the world in uniting the people globally in HIV response, through recognition of our team’s achievement of a 96 percent viral load suppression. We have also seen that our AIDS Control Unit (ACU) is getting better at HIV/AIDS management,” Dr. Aruasa said.
He urged the hospital’s ACU, led by the chairperson Dr. Beryl Ganda, to work towards elimination of HIV. He also encouraged staff to get tested and know their status.
The CEO thanked the Rafiki Centre and USAID AMPATH Uzima for the good work they are doing and also vowed to support the new USAID Dumisha Afya project which is also implemented through AMPATH.
Dr. Aruasa encouraged infected persons to go for treatment early. He urged the team to work towards ending teenage pregnancies, sexual and gender-based violence and inequalities in terms of availability of testing centres and drugs.
The awareness campaign was attended by members of Hospital Management Team including: Senior Director, Clinical Services-Dr. Philip Kirwa; Senior Director, Administration and Finance-Dr. Tarus B. Kipchumba; Director, Health Administration-Christine Tonui; ACU team and hospital staff.
MTRH CEO Dr. Wilson Aruasa (center) and staff and supporters commemorate World AIDS Day
MTRH Rafiki Centre and Uasin Gishu
The MTRH-supported Rafiki Center for Excellence in Adolescent Health mobilized its peer educators to conduct school outreach in various secondary schools in the different sub-counties of Uasin Gishu County. The week-long school outreach was organized by the Uasin Gishu County government to educate and inform the teenagers to enable them to make better life choices. A total of 24 primary and secondary schools with a total population of 13,739 were reached. The school outreach was in line with the World AIDS Day Kenyan theme of "End teenage pregnancies towards eliminating inequalities and new HIV infections."
The peers had insightful engagement with the students on issues such as health talks on teenage pregnancies, HIV prevention and gender-based violence. USAID AMPATH Uzima and county partners including MTRH, NACC, Moi University, and other stakeholders, supported the Department of Health to carry out the pre-World AIDS Day activities in the schools. On 1st December the World AIDS Day commemoration was held at Uasin Gishu County Hall led by His Excellency the Deputy Governor and thereafter there was flagging off of Maisha packs which were distributed to the needy adolescents in the county.
The Rafiki Center, launched on 1st December 2016, is a space dedicated to catering to the unique needs of teens living with HIV. The adolescents advocated to have their own space as they needed differentiated support in navigating the challenges of being HIV positive, accepting and disclosing their status, and consistently taking their medicine. The center is a one-stop-shop for the teenagers to access other services like sexual reproductive health services, mental health support, nutritional support, peer support groups, educational sessions, and engage in social activities while receiving their care. USAID AMPATH Uzima largely supports the 900 adolescents in the center to receive HIV care and treatment.
