Take care of your children to avoid early pregnancy, Kisumu parents urged

Health officials in Kisumu county are urging parents to remain vigilant during the festive season as schoolchildren proceed for their long holiday break.

County director of public health and sanitation Fredrick Oluoch said the extended holiday period often exposes teenagers to high-risk behaviours that lead to early pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. 

He said many adolescents fall into unsafe situations, especially during the first months of the long break.

Oluoch spoke in Kisumu West subcounty during this year’s World Aids Day commemoration.

 He said “disco matangas” continues to be a major hotspot where teenagers engage in unsafe sexual activities.

Oluoch raised alarm over the rising HIV burden among adolescents, children and women in the county, adding that several obstacles still hinder the HIV response. 

Kisumu’s HIV prevalence stands at 11 per cent, far above the national average of 3.3 per cent, making it the county with the highest infection rate in the country based on 2024 data. 

Oluoch said many men are not turning up for HIV testing and are failing to adhere to treatment, putting their partners at risk of infection.

He also linked cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) to increased HIV transmission, noting that perpetrators in most of the reported cases are men.

 Although Kisumu has made progress in expanding access to antiretroviral therapy with support from the national government and partners, Oluoch said more must be done. 

He cautioned pregnant women against giving birth at home, saying this denies health workers the opportunity to screen and manage their status appropriately.

The director also urged teenagers to avoid early sexual activity, emphasising that stigma should no longer deter anyone from seeking care, given the availability of quality HIV services.

Discussions with partners, he added, are ongoing to strengthen collaborative efforts in HIV prevention and treatment. 

Kisumu West assistant county commissioner Joseph Oloo issued a stern warning to individuals organising illegal night discos, saying their operations will be shut down. 

He questioned why such events are now held at night and vowed that those targeting schoolchildren would face the full force of the law.