US pledges more funding for war on HIV

US Ambassador Robert Godec in talks with Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya when he called on the latter in his office. [Photo: Benjamin Sakwa/Standard]

The United States of America has promised to increase funding to boost the fight against HIV in Nyanza region.

US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec said the funds would be chanelled to Homa Bay, Siaya, Kisumu, Migori and Nairobi, which are ranked high in the HIV infection rate.

Speaking Monday at Makongeni Sub-County Hospital in Homa Bay town, Mr Godec said the US was committed to ensuring that the infection rate of HIV is reduced to the lowest rate possible.

"We have been supporting a number of projects aimed at reducing HIV infection but the US government is going to put additional resources in Homa Bay and some other counties, which have a high infection rate of the virus," said the ambassador.

Godec said the US had programmes targetting special communities such as gays and lesbians and commercial sex workers.

"Nobody should be discriminated against in the fight against HIV whether they are gay, commercial sex workers or drug addicts," he added.

Country Director of Centre for Disease Control Kevin De Cock said post-prophylaxis drugs would be supplied to hospitals to reduce infection of among victims of rape, attacks and accidents.

Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti appealed to development partners to intervene and help his county address the health burden, including HIV, TB, maternal and infant mortality rates.

And during a separate function in Kakamega, Godec said the US government would strengthen its partnership with Kenyan government through collaboration with county governments.

He said the US government was keen on supporting and dealing with county governments to improve service delivery at the grassroots level.

Speaking during the launch of mass mosquito net distribution in Kakamega town, Godec revealed plans by the US to boost the health sector by reducing preventable deaths caused by diseases like malaria.

"The US government is keen in supporting county governments to address some of the challenges facing their people. Our key areas of concern are health, infrastructure and agriculture to promote prosperity of the county," said Godec.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya lauded the US Government for supporting Kenya in health, infrastructure and other sectors.

He said the county government was ready to partner with the US to address some of the challenges affecting local residents.

"We appreciate the US government for supporting our people to live in a health society. We had close to 0.5 million cases of confirmed malaria last year. We are developing programmes to mitigate against malaria so that we can reduce malaria infections," said Mr Oparanya.

Waqo Ejersa, the head of the National Malaria Control Programme, confirmed that at least 25 counties had high malaria prevalence that must be reduced through efforts by the Kenyan government in partnership with the US.

"Counties that have high malaria prevalence will benefit from the malaria initiative, which was launched last year by President Uhuru Kenyatta," said Dr Ejersa.