The Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, has urged county governments to embed HIV prevention measures within routine health services, warning of a troubling rise in new infections among Kenya’s youth.
Speaking during the opening of the Joint Annual Program Review Workshop on the Syndemic Strategic Framework organized by the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), Dr. Oluga noted that nearly 6,000 new HIV cases were reported among adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24.
“We have issues of prevention that we want counties to now start integrating into their healthcare services,” said Dr. Oluga, stressing the need for urgent, coordinated efforts.
He cited the Ministry of Health’s ongoing county-level surveillance and community health promoter programs as key pillars in the fight against HIV and other syndemic diseases.
He called for sustainable, community-driven solutions that address both educational and enforcement gaps contributing to teen infections.
Dr. Oluga also acknowledged the shifting funding landscape for health, noting that counties must now reorganize resources to tackle diseases like HIV, TB, and malaria more effectively under the Universal Health Coverage framework.
“This workshop provides an opportunity to assess our progress, but more importantly, to shape a resilient path forward,” he said.