First lady Margaret Kenyatta has said stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/Aids remains a big challenge in the fight against the epidemic.
Mrs Kenyatta urged Kenyans to show love and compassion to victims.
She noted though the Government had tried hard to fight and sensitise people on the deadly HIV/Aids disease, Kenyans had not made progress in addressing stigma and discrimination of those affected.
The First Lady made the remarks at Karisa Maitha playground where she officially handed over the 15th fully equipped 'Beyond Zero' mobile clinic to Kilifi County administration yesterday.
"Though the country has done much to fight the quick spread of HIV/Aids among Kenyans, the big challenge has remained that of stigma and discrimination of the victims by the communities," she said.
Mrs Kenyatta also presided over World Aids Day celebrations in Kilifi where she launched a five-year Aids strategy.
Guiding response
She praised the national government through the Ministry of Health for launching Kenya's Aids strategic framework; a programme meant to guide HIV response for the next five years.
She noted Kenya currently has 800,000 people infected with HIV/Aids who are on treatment.
Meanwhile, Nakuru County is experiencing a low number of people going for HIV testing and counselling, with only 27 per cent of the total population having been tested in 2013/2014.
Governor Kinuthia Mbugua in a speech read on his behalf by Health Executive Samuel Mwaura, said county leaders are collaborating with health stakeholders to conduct HIV awareness programmes in communities aimed at reducing infection rates.
Mbugua said the programme will involve behaviour change among youths and elimination of cultural behaviours contributing to high infection rates.
