Men called to join fight against HIV

By STANLEY ONGWAE

The Government has launched fresh campaigns aimed at reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV ahead of the World Aids Day  tomorrow.

Public Health and Sanitation Nyanza Provincial Director Jackson Kioko said the campaigns are aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of ensuring that no child will be born with HIV by the year 2015.

Kioko noted that Nyanza had recorded a tremendous decline of HIV transmission rates from 14 per cent to about nine per cent. However, he noted that some areas in the region had higher transmission rates than the nine per cent average.

According to Rongo District Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) co-ordinator Eliza Owino, Rongo, Awendo and Uriri in Migori County had higher transmission rates than the provincial average.

The statistics were released during the launch of the Kata Shauri campaign in Migori County. Dr Kioko noted with concern that men were “dragging their feet” in the call to ensure children were born free of HIV.

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 TESTING COMPULSORY

“Testing for HIV is compulsory for pregnant women when they go for antenatal clinics but it is very rare that their husbands accompany them to be tested also,” observed Kioko.?Rongo District Medical Officer of Health Diana Odhiambo said only one out of every five men accompany their wives to antenatal clinics in Rongo.?She said men were obliged to know their HIV status alongside their spouses to ensure their offspring are safe.

The officers observed the Government may not achieve a target of having HIV free children if men did not fully participate in awareness campaigns. When a couple is tested and found to be HIV positive, they are put under medication to ensure their unborn child is not infected.

Medics say it should be compulsory for spouses to know their HIV status even before they plan to have a baby. According to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey report 2008/2009, Nyanza is still leading with the highest number of cases of HIV infections at 14 per cent.