The national government through National Aids and STI control programmee NASCOP has launched new guidelines aimed at expanding HIV treatment and prevention so as to reduce new HIV infections as well as improve lives of persons already infected.
According to Rashid Ramad, the prevalence of HIV infections among youths below 25 years is on the rise .
“The government in conjunction with all stakeholders is motivated to ensure that HIV comes to an end in Kenya with treatment and prevention”, he said
Ramad said that stigma is one of the things that is contributing to more persons hiding from health facilities and new guidelines will enable ease that.
The guidelines on use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV in Kenya recommend implementation of innovative testing approaches and introduce highly effective retroviral drugs for HIV.
Alongside the updated guidelines, two other documents were also launched which included Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision training (vmmc), tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine (ttcv)guidline and early infant male circumcision training documents
Both guidelines are geared to preventing tetanus infections during medical male circumcision while the EIMC training manual will be useful in equipping health care workers with vital skills needed.
The launch of these guidelines is in line with the Presidents big four agenda to provide medical care to all Kenyans as well as to ensure timely diagnosis, reduce unnecessary HIV related illnesses, death, improve quality of life of people living with HIV and reduce new HIV infections.