Sh90 million injected into war on Aids

Published on

By JOEL OKWAYO

The Government is set to disburse more than Sh90 million to support HIV and Aids programmes by 200 groups in Western Province.

National Aids Control Council (NACC) Provincial Field Officer Reuben Musundi said groups to benefit from the grants have been identified.

"Each constituency will have two groups being funded apart from Busia and Teso," said Mr Musundi.

Speaking during workshop held at a Kakamega hotel the official said NAAC was assessing proposals from different constituencies.

He said Budalang’i, Nambale and Amagoro constituencies in Busia District would each have three groups benefiting from the grants.

"This is due to border activities and fishing related behaviour," he said.

Musundi said fishermen and residents at the border have high HIV and Aids prevalence rates and thus require more funding to fight the scourge.

"MPs are going to supervise the usage of funds disbursed to the grassroots," added Musundi.

He disclosed that NACC disbursed more than Sh20 million during the first phase of the programme to 80 such groups.

Musundi said most of the beneficiaries would focus on home-based care and prevention measures in their activities.

"Distribution of condoms and other activities are part of the mechanisms that will be used to fight the scourge," he said.

And the Western Provincial Public Health Officer Timothy Olubero said more than 1.5 million condoms have been distributed in the province.

"We are ready to overcome problems associated with heavy rains as condoms are already in the flood prone Bunyala District," said Olubero.