KAKAMEGA FIRST LADY LEADS RESIDENTS IN MARKING WORLD AIDS DAY

Kakamega County First Lady H.E. Prof. Janet Kassilly Barasa on Wednesday led residents of Kakamega in commemorating this year’s World Aids Day in an event held at Butere Primary School grounds, themed; EQUALIZE_aiming at addressing the identified Triple Threats that perpetuate the spread of HIV/Aids in Kakamega County being new HIV infections, Adolescent pregnancies and Sexual and Gender Based Violence.

The First Lady who recently launched the 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence said the Triple Threats campaign dubbed “Sawazisha” formed part of the greater efforts by the county and her partners in combating other vices such social discrimination as stigmatizing people living with HIV/Aids.

Prof. Kassilly expressed her delight at the reduced HIV prevalence in Kakamega County among people aged 15-49 which she observed had declined from 9.1 percent in 2000 to 4.3 percent in 2021. The number of Aids related deaths, she added, had also gone down by half from an estimated 52,900 in 2010 to 22,300 in 2021.

“Advancing mentorship programmes, living healthy lives and completing health education was key in making young people contribute positively to the society as we fight together the effects of HIV/Aids,” she stated.

The celebrations were also attended by ACK Butere Diocese Bishop Venerable Rose Okeno among other leaders.