Kwale county officials have raised an alarm over the increased HIV infection rate in the region.
The data from the National Aids Control Council shows that the region’s infection rate is at 3.2 percent, youth being the most affected.
According to Nacc's Coast regional HIV/AIDs coordinator Omar Mwanjama, the infection rate is high due to the increased sexual activities and lack of HIV awareness among youth and the community.
Mwanjama said many youth are engaging in unprotected sex leading to the spread of HIV disease and swollen number of sexual gender-based violence.
"The statistics clearly indicate that young people are more vulnerable because majority are infected," he said.
Last year, the county recorded more than 9000 teen pregnancy cases.
Mwanjama said both HIV and teen pregnancies have destroyed the lives of many youth, especially girls who quit schools.
He said immediate interventions must be put forward to save young lives from perishing.
The Nacc official spoke on Friday during a stakeholders meeting at Kwale governor's headquarters in Matuga.
The meeting was designed to brainstorm various affirmative ideas and possible partnership to address the problem.
Deputy Governor Chirema Kombo who chaired the discussion admitted that HIV/AIDs infection and teen pregnancies are on the rise despite previous numerous efforts to lessen the vices.
Kombo said it's a serious issue and stakeholders must get onboard to collectively address the challenge.
He said the surging sexual gender-based violence activities are to be blamed for teen pregnancies and HIV infection.
"Reckless sex, lack of knowledge and reported rape cases are some of the main contributors of the disease," he said.
Kombo said the Kwale county government in partnership with Nacc has since launched a campaign against HIV/Aids, teen pregnancies and GBVs to control the spread of HIV in the region.
"We have agreed to start thorough campaigns and sensitisation programmes to educate the youth and the entire community about HIV and GBVs," he said.
The sensitisation programmes are meant to be rolled out in all the four subcounties of Matuga, Msambweni, Lunga-Lunga and Kinango.
At least 1,000 youths are targeted in the first phase of the programme. They are expected to educate others.
Kombo said many of the residents have dropped their guard and need to be reminded about the HIV/AIDs disease and the war against SGBVs.
He said they will be engaging various leaders, Community Health Volunteers, village and Nyumba Kumi elders to help dispatch the HIV awareness message.
Kombo said the county health department will provide necessary assistance in stemming the disease and ensure the programme is sustainable.
He said they will also use all the county workers as ambassadors to spread the sensitisation campaigns against HIV, teen pregnancies and GBVs in Kwale.
In a separate meeting, Governor Fatuma Achani promised to promote the health sector for best healthcare services.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
