Kenyatta University receives automatic HIV testing kit vending machine

At a cost of Sh.25 for a self testing kit at a local pharmacy, Kenyatta University students will be able to access a HIV Self-test kit in the school premises free of charge.

This comes as a partnership between Kenyatta University and Orasure who hosted the HIV-testing camp at the main campus of the school.

 A donation of 1,000 testing kits together with two automatic vending machines which have been stationed in the campus will see students  access the OraQuick HIV Self-Test Kit for free.

As the world celebrates World Aids Day today, the awareness camp is part of the University’s initiative to drive the HIV prevention agenda with 42% of new adult infections being among the youth.

The awareness camp saw over one thousand students being trained on how to use the HIV Self- Test Kit, receive counseling and  ask questions in relation to HIV and Aids testing.

Kenyatta University Director of Wellness and Rehabilitation Services Dr. Tabitha Wang’eri said that as health is part of the development agenda, and the youth who are at the center of the country’s 2030 agenda should be given the awareness and advocated to know their HIV status.

“The Government has made many investments in the HIV response that has seen HIV prevalence reduce by half in the last decade, antiretroviral treatment scaled up to more than 800,000 and age of sexual debut increase from 14 to 16 years,”

“The youth are our future therefore we must make sure that we help them make responsible life decisions. One of these decisions is knowing one’s HIV status and in line with this year’s World AIDs Day theme- End inequalities, End pandemic, End Aids.” she said.

National Aids and STI Control Program Head of HIV and STI Prevention Unit Dr. Jonah Onentiah said the self-test initiative was a good move that made it easier for one to know their status and privacy was assured.

“Those who wanted to test at the site were allowed to while those that wanted to test in the privacy of their hostel were allowed to with access to a toll free line for any needed counselling, this is a good move that should be adopted by other institutions,” he said.

Already available in the Kenyan market, the testing kit is an oral fluid test which detects antibodies for both HIV-1 and HIV-2, within 20 minutes after a simple swab, individuals to find out their HIV status.

At least 1.5 million Kenyans are living with the virus and 36,000 are added to the number every year. According to the National AIDS Control Council (NACC), Kenya has made great gains in the war on HIV the past decade, with nearly 30,000 fewer infections a year.

However, girls and women still bear the brunt, and those living with the virus still struggle for social acceptance.