Give Life-Saving Medication To HIV Positive Children, Kenyatta Directs

The President ordered the two Ministries to embark on provision of Antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs to the 42% of the children infected with HIV/AIDS.

The President, who was speaking during the launch of the ‘Global All In’ campaign, said that the country must move with speed to address the HIV/AIDS menace.

The ‘Global All In’ campaign aims at reducing new HIV/AIDS infections among adolescents and young women.

In his address, the Head of State directed the Ministry of Education to further review the school curriculum to include lessons on how to deal with the HIV/AIDS scourge.

He called on the Ministry of Education to introduce curriculum that will empower teachers to engage young people living with HIV/AIDS, which is the leading cause of adolescent death in Africa and the second highest globally.

Banking on statistics showing that 30% of new HIV/AIDS infections are in the adolescent group with 17% of AIDS-related deaths falling in the category, the President called on stakeholders in the health sectors to use them to change people’s attitude towards HIV/AIDS.

“We now have the statistics, we need to act on the statistics that we have. Indeed as to what the young people have said we need to change our attitude towards the HIV,” he said.

He pointed out that the high HIV/AIDS infection rate among young people under the age of 24 years is a threat to the future societies and nations adding that the high rate of infection among adolescents was a great challenge to the economic prospects of the country and the continent at large.

“HIV/AIDS among adolescents is driven by vulnerability caused by lack of opportunities.  These opportunities relate to access to education and socio-economic empowerment,” he noted.

“My Government is committed to increasing budgetary allocations to the education sector to ensure all children are retained in school till they attain the age of 18 years.”

He lauded the First Lady’s ‘Beyond Zero’ campaign which has contributed significantly in the control of HIV infection and promoting maternal, newborn and child health.

“This campaign has already impacted countless lives throughout our country.  Its impact in reducing child HIV infection goes a long way in reducing future prevalence among adolescents,” President Kenyatta said.

Cabinet Secretaries Jacob Kaimenyi and James Macharia stressed the need to involve all Kenyans by sharing best practices in the management of HIV/AIDS pandemic.

By Benjamin Wafula