The Mountain Journal
The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council has raised alarm over the increase of gender based violence in some areas that were ranked among the low risk areas.
The council has since partnered with Murang’a County Government to tackle teenage pregnancies, HIV /Aids infection and the unending gender based violence which has been identified as potential risk facing the community.
The council chairman Geoffrey Gitu said in Kenya there are 22,154 new HIV infections , with Murang’a having tested 178 in 2022 down from 239 in 2021.
The council is working towards lowering the infections among the youth through sensitisitation on the effective use of condoms.
In the national arena, he disclosed that during the Naivasha Safari Rally events, the majority of the youth disregard use of condoms and instead prefer buying P2 from the chemists.
“ We supply enough condoms but in our research we find that only a percentage used as private chemists around sell P2 in large numbers,” said Gitu.
He spoke when he paid a courtesy call on Murang’a governor Irungu Kang’ata, where they agreed on close collaboration between partners to address the health challenges affecting the residents.
In Murang’a county he said, on June 8, the council will launch a campaign in Kanyenya ini market, Kangema, to educate the public on better care with those infected seeking treatment and introduction into antiviral drugs.
In Murang’a county, he said, an estimated 2,000 residents tested positive but have not been listed for antiviral drugs where 34 percent of the youth aged 15 and 34 years of age are infected.
“ Kiharu is leading with 4,586 infections followed by Murang’a south sub county 4,562, Gatanga 3,117,” said Gitu due to closeness with urban setup,” said Gitu.
Mathioya, he added, has the lowest infection of 1,592 people.
Murang’a county HIV Coordinator David Gitau said they have managed to lower the teenage pregnancies following interventions of the teachers and the community.
“ In the past two years, matters related to teenage pregnancies have been addressed and the number of young girls being impregnated has reduced,’ said Mr Gitau.
In the teenage pregnancies, Murang’a last year registered 3,676 up from the previous of 3,511 cases.
In gender based violence, 500 cases were reported, lower than 550 cases of the previous year.
