Kenya is likely to end HIV/AIDs by 2030 if it puts more focus on the priority populations, experts have predicted.
The experts said the country data shows Kenya is on the right track towards eliminating the HIV/AIDS pandemic, with more focus on the children, adolescents and key populations such as the female sex workers and men who have sex with men.
John Nkengasong on Monday said data from Kenya is encouraging and with joined forces the country is likely to eliminate the disease in the next five years.
Nkengasong is the US Global AIDS coordinator and special representative for health diplomacy under the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
“Based on the data, if we apply ourselves rightly, join forces and commit ourselves to the struggle against HIV/ Aids we will get there. We are on the mountain top and we see the promised land, which is the end of HIV/Aids by the year 2030,” he said.
Data from the Ministry of Health shows that more than 1.1 million people living with HIV in Kenya are on Antiretroviral therapy, with 73 per cent of them achieving viral suppression.
There are however, more than 1.4 million people living with HIV with about 10 per cent being children aged 0-14.
The country has witnessed a 68 per cent reduction in new HIV infections and 57 per cent reduction in AIDS related deaths.
According to Health CS Susan Wafula, the US government through PEPFAR has been a major partner in advancing the government’s agenda of ensuring universal access to HIV services, for the Kenyan people since 2003.
“We have many reasons to celebrate. The HIV response brought hope to many who had despaired and restored many households that were threatened by the socio-economic challenges associated with the disease,” Wafula said.
Other areas Kenya should focus on is increasing funding, developing more partnerships and strengthening health systems to be resilient in case of other pandemics.
