By Rodah Nisa Masibo
Kenya is among the twelve inaugural countries to shape the Global Alliance to end AIDS in children by 2030.
This is a commitment made in the Dar Es Salaam Declaration for Action to end AIDS in Children on 1st February 2023, to fast track ending AIDS in children in Kenya.
To guide the country towards this commitment, the Ministry of Health through the National AIDS and STI Control Program (NASCOP) and various stakeholders including NSDCC, the 47 counties, PLHIV, UNICEF, UNAIDS, Global Fund, PEPFAR, WHO among others have developed an action plan dubbed Kenya Plan to End AIDS in Children by 2027.
This plan is an embodiment of interventions that are being implemented to close the tap of new HIV infections among children. The goal is to end AIDS in children by 2027 and eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis. It addresses gaps in HIV and AIDS service delivery and provides avenues for best practices in the quality of care for all pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in urban and rural Kenya.
On 8th September 2023, the Ministry of Health launched this plan in Homabay County, with the Cabinet Secretary, Nakhumicha S. Wafula, as the Chief Guest. The launch was a kick-start of countrywide conversations and interventions to equalize HIV response in children. The successful event hosted by Homabay County Governor, Gladys Wanga, brought together representatives from the government, elected leaders, partners, communities, media, the public and representatives of the communities living with HIV.
During the launch, CS Nakhumicha acknowledged the efforts and progress the country has made to end AIDS especially among adults. “The UNAIDS standards for HIV epidemic control (UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets) requires that 95% of all people living with HIV (PLHIV) are diagnosed, 95% of all PLHIV are on treatment and 95% of all PLHIV are virally suppressed. The current UNAIDS 95-95-95 progress among adults is 95-95-90. However, among children the performance is 85-85-74.”
“As a member state of the Global Alliance, Kenya will implement a 4-Point Action Plan within the next three (3) years to bridge the gaps, and fast-track the progress of ending pediatric AIDS,” said the Cabinet Secretary.
This 4-Point Action Plan will focus on addressing vulnerabilities and inequalities that
sustain the new infections and impede progress by sub-populations and geography; Closing all the bottlenecks in diagnostics systems, commodity security and health workforce; Renewing partnerships and align resources with country priorities and costed work Plans; and Prioritizing data and information system to have an informed science led response at all levels
The launch was also a flag off of the 100-day 2023 Rapid Result Initiative (RRI), dubbed “Wakati ni sasa End AIDS in children,” that is focusing on saturating client- centred interventions at the facility and community levels to reduce missed opportunities in the quality of care for pregnant, and/or breastfeeding women and children. This exercise is being implemented in all 47 counties while ensuring stakeholder engagement.
CS Nakhumicha called for and acknowledged collaborations in the HIV care cascade to bridge the glaring gap in HIV epidemic control progress for children.
“Through collaborations and partnerships, over the last ten years, Kenya reduced new HIV infections by 57%, and AIDS-related death decreased by 68%. However, mother-to-child transmission rate remains high at 8.6%, treatment coverage among children living with HIV is 85% with about 74% of those virally suppressed.”
The CS urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure that no child is left behind in the HIV response.
Present during the launch were the Cabinet Secretary, Rebecca Miano, UNICEF Regional Advisor, East and Southern Africa, Dr. Laurie Gulaid; Head NASCOP, Dr. Rose Wafula and the Country Directors; UNAIDS Kenya, Dr. Medhin Tsehaiu; WHO Kenya, Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo; UNICEF Kenya, Dr. Shaheen Nilofer; PEPFAR Kenya, Brian Rettmann; LVCT Health Kenya, Dr. Lilain Otiso; EGPAF Africa, Dr. Eliud Mwangi; Persons living with HIV and Paediatric researchers among others.
The guests called for commitments to mobilize leadership, partnerships and funding to end AIDS in children by 2027 for the country and beyond, as we all advocate for a world free of HIV.
The launch of the Kenya Plan to End AIDS in Children by 2027 was a historic moment for the country and a sign of hope for the thousands of children living with HIV. It also marked the beginning of a renewed commitment and collective action to end AIDS by 2030.
