This archive report was first published on 30 November 2019.
On a Friday in Nairobi, the Ministry of Health's National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCOP) Head, Dr. Catherine Ngugi, launched a social media campaign, #TheTeaOnHIV, to raise awareness about the high HIV burden among adolescents and young people in Kenya.
According to the NASCOP Kenya HIV estimate 2018, 105,200 adolescents aged 10 to 19 years are living with HIV, while 184,700 young adults aged 15 to 19 years are also living with the virus.
Dr. Ngugi emphasized that adolescents and young people currently contribute to the highest number of new infections, representing 33% of new infections, with adolescents having 8,200 new cases and young adults having 17,700 new cases.
She also highlighted that adolescents account for 12% of all AIDS-related deaths, while young adults account for another 12% of all AIDS-related deaths.
Dr. Ngugi attributed the increased vulnerability of young people to HIV to factors such as unprotected sex under the influence of alcohol, forced sex, and sexual violence, which particularly affect young Kenyan women who are three times more likely to be exposed to sexual violence than young Kenyan men.
She noted that stigma and discrimination are major issues when it comes to dealing with HIV and accessing treatment among adolescents and youth in and out of schools.
Dr. Ngugi mentioned that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and other partners, has developed a caregivers' guide to build the capacity of teachers and nurses to improve the quality of care for adolescents living with HIV.
She also emphasized the need for comprehensive and integrated youth-friendly facilities to address the challenges faced by youth in accessing health services and information related to HIV, testing, and staying safe.
Dr. Ngugi concluded by highlighting the importance of empowering youth to comprehend HIV/AIDS issues and participate meaningfully in the fight against the disease.
She also emphasized the need to ensure that information on social media sites gives correct guidance, as most common misconceptions among the youth are found on the internet.
The 31st World AIDS Day will be held on December 1, this year.
