By Sharon Onyango
According to the latest HIV estimates, Kenya's HIV prevalence stands at approximately 3.7% while Siaya County records a prevalence of 9.8%, significantly higher than the National average.
The Department of Health and Sanitation, in partnership with TIKO and the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), has intensified efforts to combat HIV, gender-based violence (GBV), and teenage pregnancy through a series of health interventions during the launch of the 5th Cultural Week and 3rd Peer Educators Day at Siaya National Polytechnic.
Held under the theme "One Peer, One Voice, One Positive Impact," the event brought together students, health professionals, government departments, partners to promote healthy lifestyles and empower young people to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
As part of the initiative "End the Triple Threat," the department has established an integrated health outreach at the Siaya National Polytechnic, where students accessed prevention activities, peer-to-peer engagement, HIV Testing Services (HTS), condom promotion and distribution.
A range of HIV prevention and testing services; included free blood-based HIV testing kits, oral HIV self-test kits, pre- and post-test counseling services, and access to Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for individuals at risk of HIV infection.
A major highlight of the event was the participation of Stanley Ngara, King Condom and Menstrual hygiene Champion Samsha, peer champions. The interactive sessions attracted significant interest from students and helped dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding condom use and HIV prevention.
Zilper Imbuye PMTCT, VTP coordinator emphasized the importance of engaging young people through peer-led platforms to address the persistent challenges of HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, and gender-based violence. They noted that empowering youth with accurate information and access to preventive services remains a critical strategy in reducing new infections and improving health outcomes.
Dr.Ken Oruenjo expressed optimism that sustained community engagement, increased uptake of HIV prevention services, and strengthened partnerships with institutions of learning will contribute to positive trends in key health indicators.
The outreach also supported the national "End the Triple Threat" campaign, which seeks to eliminate new HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, and sexual and gender-based violence among adolescents and young people. Through peer education and access to essential health services, the initiative aims to empower young people to become champions of positive behavior change within their communities.