Help us fight HIV, SGBV- Homa Bay youths urged

Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV) infection is still a major challenge among youths in Homa Bay as they strive to improve their economic standards.

Homa Bay is among the counties in Kenya with high HIV prevalence as per the Kenya Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (Kenphia) report.

Kenphia data from 2018 says the county has a prevalence of 19.6 per cent with a majority of infections involving youths.

The county commissioner Moses Lilan encouraged youths to be on the frontline in fighting the spread by avoiding vices that promote infections.

Such vices are drug abuse, careless sex and other social ills

Lilan said the government has plans to fight disease by 2030 and asked youths to cooperate and for them to realize the dream.

“The youth and hustler funds are among the programmes the government is supporting to empower youths. The plans are meant to reduce poverty which is a contributor to the spread of HIV infection among the youths,” Lilan said.

Speaking when they marked this year’s International Youth Day at Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay town, the administrator said sexual and gender-based violence is still rife and affecting youths in Homa Bay.

Community Aid Transformation Alliance Group (CATAG) and Population Services Kenya (PSK) are among the organizations that sensitize youths through HIV and SGBV preventive programmes.

According to Lilan, about 50 cases of gender-based violence are reported in different governments in county institutions every month. He said most of them involve youths.

“Law enforcers and other agencies are helping in addressing the challenge. Let people report the cases for redress,” he added.

The government is also planning to recruit officials who will help in addressing the emerging challenges affecting the youths.

They are assistant county commissioners and gender focal persons. They are trainers of trainees in addressing gender-based violence.

Homa Bay youth director Elector Opar asked youths in Homa Bay to take advantage of opportunities provided by the government to come up with income-generating activities.

Such initiatives are loans offered to groups.

She asked youths to visit her office for guidance and advice on how they can tap the opportunities the government is providing.

“The shortage of employment has made the government come up with opportunities that our youths can use to empower themselves,” Opar said.

CATAG coordinator Basar Hassan said their programmes are aimed at empowering teenagers about sexual and reproductive health.

She said the empowerment enables the youth to speak out about their rights.

“We equip them to secure their future. We want youths to come up strongly and advocate for their rights,” Hassan said.

She said the training they are providing will enable youths to be creative and get ways of earning a living.

The empowerment involves officials from police stations and hospitals where selected staffers are tasked with the responsibility of addressing challenges of SGBVs which affect the youth.

“Youths must not wait for employment opportunities to earn a living. We want them to be creative,” she added.