MCAs in Murang’a County Assembly have adopted a report proposing establishment of a special kitty to manage HIV/Aids and Tuberculosis.
The leaders want the county to be self-reliant once the key donors funding HIV programmes withdraw their donations in 2027.
County Assembly Committee on Health Services chairperson Boniface Ng’ang’a urged the Health boss to prioritise the HIV/Aids Bill 2024 which would provide a framework for the provision of the special fund.
“World Bank, CDC, and other NGOs that fund the HIV/AIDS programmes in the county will be withdrawing their donations in 2027. Approval of this Bill will lead to the development of HIV/AIDS Regulations to create a special fund for HIV and TB management in the County,” Ng’ang’a said.
He noted that though the overall prevalence of HIV in the county was relatively low, there were still pockets of concern.
Supporting the report, MCA John Kibaiya said that even though the HIV prevalence in the county was low, having separate desks for people living with the virus in Level 4 Hospitals in the county promoted stigmatisation.
Murang’a Level 5 Hospital.
Kibaiya called for an integration of these persons into the normal healthcare system in Murang’a Level 4 Hospitals.
“Most Level 4 Hospitals in Murang’a have an extra desk for people living with this disease. To erode the stigma associated with the disease, HIV/AIDS treatment should be integrated into the regular healthcare provision mechanisms,” he stated.
