By correspondent
Reducing new HIV infections, AIDS related mortality and addressing stigma are the main challenges Wajir County has to contend with as the world marks AIDS day.
Speaking at Habaswein town during the occasion of World AIDS day, deputy governor of Wajir, Mr. Ahmed Mukhtar said responses to HIV and AIDS still remain a serious public health challenge to the county.
“We project that the number of people living with HIV will continue to grow, placing continuing demands on health and social service systems” Mr. Mukhtar said while admitting that some tangible progress were made. “We have also endeavored to allocate resources towards HIV and AIDS response with specific stress to programs targeting youths and adolescents”
Despite challenges Wajir County prides itself to have maintained a zero mother-to-child transmission for the past few years significantly reducing the number of children born with the virus.
“The County is moving towards elimination of Mother to Child transmission of HIV; with the last three years recording no child who was born with HIV” Mr. Muktar said
County officials say their target is to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV completely; expand antiretroviral treatment; and implement innovative prevention techniques to stop new infections.
In Wajir, more than 600 people including 130 children are living with the virus
