Makueni: There is a need to strengthen the youth-friendly services in the health facilities with a view of confronting the triple threat of HIV, teenage pregnancies, and gender-based violence (GBV) in Makueni County.

According to Kenya News Agency, Makueni County Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili emphasized that the new cases of HIV infections in the area are significantly affecting the youth aged between 15 to 24 years. Mulili urged health workers to educate the youth about reproductive health to prevent new infections and incidences of GBV in the county.

'Makueni County has recorded 199 new cases of HIV infections from the last national estimates in the country. Out of these infections, 50 were among the youth aged between 15 and 24 years while 43 are children from zero to 14 years,' said Mulili during the World AIDS Day commemoration at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Mbooni Campus. She stressed the need to protect and empower young women through community education.

The Deputy Governor revealed that 18,264 people are living with HIV in Makueni County, representing a prevalence rate of 1.83 percent of the total population infected in Kenya. She highlighted the urgent need for concerted efforts to combat the increasing epidemic, noting that 487 women are living with HIV and 579 women are receiving Prevention to Mother-Child Transmission (PMTC) support in the county.

Mulili assured that adequate tools and health workers are available to ensure no child is born with HIV in the area. She praised the contributions of partners who have supplemented government efforts in tackling HIV issues in the county.

Speaking at the same event, County Executive Committee Member for Health Joyce Mutua urged the youth to get tested to curb the rising spread of the epidemic. Mutua also assured that the county government will ensure the availability of drugs in health facilities to prevent deaths related to the epidemic.