By Alloys Musyoka
Youth in Kwale have been urged to uphold high moral behavior in the society as a way to curb the growing number of youth getting HIV-Aids in the region.
Kwale County Attorney Salim Gombeni who represented governor Fatuma Achani at the World Aids Day Celebrations marked at LungaLunga Primary School encouraged the 5000 HIV positive youths not receiving HIV services in Kwale facilities to come out and do so in order to reduce the Chances of infecting other people.
Statistics indicate that 20,000 youths in Kwale County are HIV positive with only 15,000 HIV positive clients receiving HIV services across 178 health facilities built by Kwale County Government.
“The County Government under Achani administration has improved the quality health care service delivery in all the 178 health centers including HIV testing, availability of ARVS, safe delivery for HIV positive mother and Counselling services, as County we are managing the pandemic. “Gombeni Said.
Gombeni also called on residents in the region to support the affected people in order to reduce stigmatization and discrimination for people infected with the virus.
LungaLunga member of Parliament Mangale Chiforomodo commended Achani Administration efforts in curbing the spread of the virus across the County through provision of HIV services in all the facilities.
“I want to encourage men and boys in Kwale to get tested and those that are HIV positive to take their medication well because if they are not go for treatment they will eventually infect more people with the virus” Chiforomodo Said.
Health services chief officer Athuman Mwashando said that the department will continue to create awareness and sensitization campaigns across the County to destigmatize people living with HIV/Aids in Kwale.
Mwanaisha a HIV/AIDS survivor born with the virus for the last 23 years said that she has lived healthy with the virus for the last two decades because of taking her medication and following medics advice.
“Those that are not infected do not indulge yourself into sexual behaviors that will put one into the risk of contracting the virus use protection or abstain. Angelina said.
This year’s theme’ ‘It’s a race against time, end Aids by 2030 is relevant with kwale County efforts of reducing the spread of the virus in the County.
Other Government officials present were Chief officer Social Service and Talent Management Rizik Mwasoza, Director monitoring and Evaluation Ronald
Chakaya,Deputy County Commissioner LungaLunga Joseph Sawe,Lungalunga Municipal Manager Grace Mbeyu and other senior Government officials.
