The Elgeyo Marakwet County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of health Michale Kibiwott has called on men and boys to seek HIV testing and treatment before it’s too late.
Kibiwott said most men in the county were dying from HIV because they wait until they are critically ill before seeking treatment which he blamed on the culture where men are trained to be brave even when they are suffering.
Speaking during celebrations to mark the World AIDS day in Iten, the CECM said women living with the virus were more than men in the county but women live longer because they seek treatment and adhere to treatment.
He said the prevalence had dropped from 2.5% to 1.9% with a total of 6,000 people living with the HIV virus in the county but only 4,000 were on treatment saying 2,000 were people who either don’t know their status or they know but are yet to accept and thus they have not sought treatment.
He added that of those taking drugs, 98% have had the virus suppressed through taking of ARV’s enabling them to leave normal lives adding that the rate of elimination from mother to child had risen from 14%-17%.
He however said out of 5 children born with the virus, one has the virus but said the department of health was doing everything possible to ensure that all children live HIV free.
The County Aids Control Coordinator (CASCO) Josephat Kimaiyo named Iten, Kapcherop, Soko Bora, Biretwo and Flax as hotspots in the spread of the virus. He said this were growing urban areas experiencing growth in commercial activities thus attracting an influx of people.
By Alice Wanjiru
