In a colorful display of solidarity to this year’s World AIDS Day call to action, “Let communities lead”, we joined hands with stakeholders from government, civil society organizations and communities to not just to mark the day, but to ignite a renewed commitment to ending HIV for everyone, everywhere.
The day-long event was held at Kinoru Stadium in Meru County to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
The venue of the celebration was significant in that it brought to light the persistent HIV and sexual reproductive health challenges among the adolescents and young women.
According to National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), the county had the highest number of teenage pregnancies despite, the country’s remarkable trajectory in achieving 95% reduction in overall HIV infections across all age categories by 2030.
In a commendable gesture, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Susan Nakhumicha celebrated the unsung heroes and heroines at the forefront of battling stigma. With over 1.4 million people living with HIV in Kenya, the revelation that close to 95% are on treatment marks a significant milestone.
She lauded the various community-driven initiatives including invaluable innovations put in place to end HIV in the country.
MOSAIC an acronym for (Maximizing Options to Advance Informed Choice for HIV Prevention), is a five-year global project funded by The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the USAID – US Agency for International Development to help adolescent girls and young women and other women prevent HIV by accelerating introduction and scale-up of new and emerging biomedical prevention products.
LVCT Health is committed towards the achievement of epidemic control including responding to emerging and re-emerging global health priorities as well as leveraging the digital health space for improved health outcomes.
Recognizing the challenges that exist in while celebrating progress becomes a rallying cry. The dedication of individuals and communities in the fight against HIV serves as a beacon of hope, illustrating that transformative change is not just a distant dream but a tangible reality through collective action.
As we mark World AIDS Day 2023, there is need for a unified call to “Let communities Lead”. The collaboration between governments, organizations, and communities will exemplify the potency of collective action. It not only acknowledges the strides made but also points toward a future liberated from the restraints of this global health crisis.
The echoes from communities and participants from Kinoru Stadium in Meru, amplify that change begins at the grassroots, and communities are at the forefront of this transformative journey-‘Let communities lead”