Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka wants the county to join hands with the Busia counterparts to contain the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the region.
In a speech read on his behalf by County Secretary William Nasong’o at a local hotel, the governor highlighted the need for continued cooperation to enhance the fight against HIV.
The stakeholders’ forum, supported by USAID Dumisha Afya, focused on leveraging innovations, learning, and scaling up best practices to improve HIV services and control the epidemic.
The governor further stressed the importance of integrating HIV/AIDS programmes with the county’s broader health initiatives, such as universal health coverage and primary healthcare systems, to ensure sustainability amid decreasing donor funding.
Lusaka expressed his commitment to underscore the determination to sustain the progress made in combating HIV/AIDS and advancing health outcomes in the county.
The speech applauded the efforts to manage HIV transmission with support from partners like USAID.
Lusaka expressed concern over the continued high transmission rates among newborns, youth, and adolescents.
He also pointed out the challenge of teenage pregnancies, which exacerbates the problem.
“To address these issues, the county has been working to establish youth-friendly centres in every ward, providing educational resources and health services for young people.
Lusaka emphasized that ongoing reforms, including universal health coverage, aim to make HIV interventions more accessible and sustainable.
The governor encouraged participants at the forum to engage actively, share insights, and collaborate, noting that collective experiences and diverse perspectives are critical to building more resilient health systems.
Lusaka also applauded and acknowledged the contributions of USAID Dumisha Afya and reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining momentum in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
He also called upon other partners to join the fight against HIV/AIDS now that the two counties are located along the highway and border Uganda.
Stakeholders present are drawn from Bungoma and Busia counties, respectively.
By Douglas Mudambo
