Kisumu County has the highest number of men living with HIV in the country, with over 50,000 on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) Regional Coordinator in charge of Kisumu and Siaya counties Steve Kathaka attributed the figure to poor health seeking behaviour amongst men and rising cases of drugs and substance abuse.
Kithaka said men were not screening for HIV, instead they relied on results of their spouses dealing a blow to the fight against the disease.
“Men don’t go for HIV testing, they send their spouses. When they come back home in the evening and see the mood in the house is right, they assume that they are negative too forgetting that they could be discordant couples,” he said.
This coupled with rising cases of drugs and substance abuse amongst men, has led to an increase in cases of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) further contributing to the spread of the virus.
“We have witnessed many cases of sexual Gender Based Violence and femicide with most of the perpetrators being men,” he said.
Cases of teenage pregnancies, were also high in the area contributing to the spread of the virus.
Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds in Kisumu City during World Aids Day Celebrations, Kathaka called for a paradigm shift in the fight against the virus saying more efforts should be directed to men and boys to reverse the tide.
“We are telling men it is a high time that you know your status. Don’t wait until you are very sick to know your HIV status, blood sugar or pressure,” he said.
Kisumu County Director of Public Health Fredrick Oluoch said even though the County had made great strides in the fight against HIV, the question of men carrying the highest HIV/Aids disease burden was a big concern.
The number of HIV cases in the area, he said, dropped from 12,643 in 2013 to 1,730 in 2023 across all age groups.
HIV/Aids mortality, he added also dropped from 3,901 in 2013 to 1,761 2023 with the highest number being men.
“Even though this is a big stride, the mortality rate is too high. That is why we are advocating for early diagnosis so that treatment is initiated early to reduce the number,” he said.
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The county government with support from the national government and partners, he added, has managed to achieve 91% Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) coverage with a total of 128,000 people put on medication.
To address drugs and substance abuse, the department of public health, has rolled out methadone therapy at Jaramogo Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to rehabilitate addicts.
Olouch said the program is supported with satellite tobacco rehabilitation centers established across the eight sub counties, while calling on men struggling with drugs to make use of the services.
Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo said security agencies have intensified a crackdown on illicit brews in the area, which was to blame for rising cases of violence and teenage pregnancies.
The crackdown, he added, shall be extended to all bars operating within 300 metres from from schools and places of worship to ensure that young girls and children are protected.
He cautioned parents against hiding children who are victims of teenage pregnancies and rape saying they risked arrest and prosecution.
“Some men believe that sleeping with these young girls is a cure to HIV. That is why we have intensified efforts to ensure that any reported case is acted upon and the perpetrators prosecuted,” he said.
The county commissioner further called for behaviour change to reduce spread of HIV in the area.
“We are telling our people that the disease is real and is still here with us. Let us stop trivializing it and take precautionary measures,” he said.
– By Chris Mahandara, KNA
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