Health officers in Narok County have decried increasing cases of mother-child HIV/AIDS transmission after the latest records showed the transmission in the county is 21.1 per cent above the country average of 8 per cent.
Narok North HIV coordinator Purity Kisaka said the high number is contributed by ignorant parents who do not show up to be tested during the post-natal clinics, while others do not take the medicine as prescribed by the medics.
She said the country is aiming at reducing the statistics to below 5 per cent by 2027, saying there is need for great sensitization in every village to encourage couples to be tested for the disease.
“Many times you find the mother visiting the clinics alone without her partner. When she tests negative, the partner thinks he is safe yet he could be having other secret partners who could be suffering from the disease,” she said.
She spoke during a public participation meeting organized by the Narok North Member of Parliament Agnes Pareyio and attended by chiefs, religious leaders and village elders at the Narok North Youth Empowerment Hall.
Ms. Kisaka reminded the gathering that HIV/AIDS is not a killer disease as patients are given free medicine to contain the disease and can live a long life.
“The only problem we have is people who do not want to be tested so that they can start medication early enough. If you visit your nearest health center, you will be tested for free and put under medication if you test positive of the disease. This will boost your body immunity,” she said.
The MP called on chiefs and their assistants to invite health officers in their public barazas so they can inform the residents on the disease.
“The disease is real, but since the onset of Covid, people stopped fearing HIV and shifted their attention to fighting Covid. I want to remind you that HIV is still there and if we do not protect ourselves, it could easily infect us,” she said.
“I invited these officers from the health department because I want you to be informed. We do not want to keep quiet and pretend all is good yet statistics show that we are not doing good in controlling HIV. The disease is real and can be controlled if we visit the health facilities to be tested,” she said.
By Ann Salaton
