Men, accompany your wives for HIV checks

Men ought to take positively accompanying their expectant wives to prenatal clinics for joint HIV checks, Katani Level 4 Hospital CEO Dr Modesta Vesonder has mentioned.

Vesonder mentioned this might assist in lowering HIV prevalence charges amongst Kenyans since {couples} shall be cautious of their standing therefore get launched to needed treatment on time.

She mentioned most males don’t know their HIV standing versus girls, thereby making the battle in opposition to the HIV/AIDs pandemic difficult.

“HIV morbidity and mortality charges in Kenya have elevated between 2023 and 2024 as in comparison with 5 years in the past,” Vesonder mentioned.

She spoke to the Star at Katani hospital in Athi River, Machakos county on Wednesday.

The physician mentioned Kenyans shouldn’t be reckless of their sexual behaviours particularly through the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Vesonder mentioned transmission of HIV from mom to little one has additionally elevated within the nation over time.

“Many folks have died from issues of HIV because it was first recognized in 1989. Testing, early analysis, remedy and continued utilisation of HIV medicines can forestall development of HIV to AIDS,” Vesonder mentioned.

She holds a PhD in Public Health with specialisation in Epidemiology and a Masters in Adult Medicine.

The medic mentioned Katani hospital had been reaching out to communities with voluntary HIV counseling and testing companies amongst different healthcare companies.

“We have to date examined over 3,000 folks in Machakos, Kajiado and Nairobi counties. When HIV testing is obtainable in communities the place folks dwell and work, they reply positively to the screening checks,” Vesonder mentioned.

She mentioned most ladies hold their HIV standing secret particularly after they become optimistic if examined throughout their antenatal care.

They inform medics to not disclose outcomes to their spouses or kinfolk.

This, Vesonder, mentioned was a dangerous behaviour because it results in unfold of the virus provided that spouses can’t take needed precautions to guard themselves from infections and re-infections as a result of ignorance.

HIV/AIDS male champion, Paul Odhiambo, mentioned he examined optimistic for HIV when he accompanied his spouse to pre-natal clinic 16 years in the past.

“I’ve lived with HIV for 16 years now. I examined optimistic for HIV once I accompanied my second spouse (deceased) to a pre-natal clinic in 2008,” Odhiambo advised the Star on Wednesday.

The final born was efficiently delivered freed from the virus. She is at the moment in Form 3 and scheduled to take a seat KCSE in 2025.

“I acquired to know my HIV standing as a result of my spouse was examined on the maternity throughout her being pregnant and he or she was requested to take her partner for each of us to endure counseling and testing,” Odhiambo mentioned.

Odhiambo, now a growth marketing consultant at Positive Action Community Groups Solutions, a civil society organisation, mentioned he could not consider he was HIV optimistic after the check was executed on him.

“I used to be then 48 years outdated, a younger man, had cash and will do something I needed. I used to be a civil servant then,” Odhiambo mentioned.

Kenyans, particularly these from low earnings communities, don’t search treatment in hospitals, a scenario more likely to lead in improve in HIV prevalence fee within the nation.

Vesonder mentioned HIV isn’t a dying sentence.

“Every pregnant girl who attends prenatal clinic is examined for HIV, if discovered to be optimistic, they’re endorsed and began on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART),” Vesonder mentioned.

“If a pregnant girl dwelling with HIV complies with remedy, their viral load can scale back considerably to the place by way of correct administration, they aren’t in a position to transmit the virus to their new child. Babies born from these moms ought to obtain remedy and be solely breastfed for no less than six months.”

Vesonder mentioned Kenya had made important strides in prevention of HIV from mom to little one.

“During Covid-19 and thereafter particularly with excessive inflation charges, insurance coverage points and lack of entry has performed a task within the improve of transmission from mom to new child,” Vesonder mentioned.

According to the National Syndemic Disease Control Council, 9,579 males and 21,466 girls are on ART in Machakos county.

In Kajiado county, 5,776 males and 13,272 girls are on ART whereas 58,460 males and 117,856 girls are on ART in Nairobi county.

These are folks between 15 years and above.

Adults on ART in Machakos county are 21,466 whereas in Nairobi county they’re 117,856 and 13,272 in Kajiado.

There are 1,048 kids between 0 – 14 years on HIV treatment in Machakos whereas these in Kajiado are 749 and three,718 in Nairobi.

HIV associated deaths in Kenya are 20,480 with adults being 17,873, kids 2,607, adolescents 1,351 whereas these between 15 – 24 years are 2,094.

Children deaths in Machakos, Kajiado and Nairobi are 7,965 and 52 respectively.