Nyeri, Kenya – The Nyeri Town Member of Parliament, Duncan Mathenge, is calling for a renewed focus on HIV prevention in educational institutions. Speaking at a sensitization forum on the Triple Threat campaign for community gatekeepers, Mathenge emphasized the need for increased awareness among students in Nyeri’s educational facilities.
According to Kenya News Agency, Nyeri town’s high student population, spread across four government colleges and a private medical training center, is at risk due to their living arrangements and social behaviors. He noted that while some students live in regulated institutional environments, many reside in off-campus hostels, where they are more susceptible to engaging in risky behaviors like unprotected sex, influenced by peer pressure and substance abuse.
The Triple Threat campaign, a government initiative, aims to reduce new HIV infections, unintended pregnancies, and gender-based violence among adolescents and young women. Mathenge stressed the importance of community-based strategies to address these challenges and protect the youth from the risks of HIV infection.
The forum, organized by the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC), drew attention to worrying statistics from the Kenya Health Information Service (KHIS). In 2022, HIV prevalence among adolescents aged 10-19 in Nyeri was 32 percent, and for those aged 15-24, the rate accounted for 44 percent of all new infections nationwide.
Mathenge also raised concerns about the increasing substance abuse in Nyeri, particularly in low-income areas. He warned that without immediate action, the proliferation of hard drugs like heroin could have devastating effects on the youth. To combat this, a rehabilitation and treatment center has been opened at Ihururu Trading Center.
NSDCC Chair Geoffrey Gitu highlighted the challenges of teenage pregnancies, HIV spread, and sexual and gender-based violence among young people in Nyeri. He mentioned that the county is experiencing a rise in teenage pregnancies and emphasized the need for community-based sensitization initiatives, like employing Community Health Promoters (CHP).
Gitu pointed out a worrying trend among adolescents: a lack of concern about HIV and a greater fear of pregnancy. This attitude has led to a preference for contraceptives over condoms, despite the latter being provided for free by the government. The NSDCC is also addressing issues like sodomy, homosexual practices, and prostitution in Nyeri.
During the last year’s World Aids Day celebrations, NSDCC director Monica Njoroge noted the high rate of new HIV infections among those under 24 years of age. She stressed that unless drastic measures are taken, the socio-economic impact of HIV on young people could be catastrophic for Kenya’s future.
Njoroge highlighted the significant reduction in HIV prevalence in Kenya since the first case was detected in 1984. However, she pointed out that infection rates among the youth remain alarmingly high. In 2021, new infections predominantly affected young women and girls, with 67 percent of the total cases.
NSDCC is also addressing the challenge of decreased donor funding for HIV prevention and care. Njoroge appealed to those aware of their HIV status but not on treatment to seek medical intervention. With 1.4 million people living with HIV in Kenya and 200,000 out of treatment, it’s crucial for individuals to access antiretroviral therapy to combat the virus.