Voice of the youth is vital in HIV Prevention
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June 21, 2022
Voice of the youth is
vital in HIV Prevention
THE Voice of the youth is very important and must be heard
as far as the issue of Human Immunodeficiency Virus {HIV} prevention is
concerned.
This has emerged during the official kick off of a four day
Conference on Reducing HIV in Adolescents and Youth {RHAY} in Kisumu today.
Addressing the gathering of various stakeholders in the
health sector including the Adolescent and the young people during the official
opening of the Conference, Prof Elizabeth Bukusi of Kenya Medical Research
Institute {KEMRI} said among the Adolescents and young people {AYP}, 42 percent
of new HIV infections falls between the age of 15 to 24 years.
Prof Bukusi who gave presentation on Global Land scape on
HIV says there should be no stigmatization and discrimination on issues of HIV.
Dr. Elizabeth Irungu from JHPIEGO who gave presentation on overview
of the HIV Burden among Adolescent and Young People in Eastern and Southern
Africa says new HIV infections among Adolescents and Young People is coming
down, adding that the problem is they are not coming down fast to the zero
level infections.
Dr. Irungu says the young people wants a number of
interventions met on the issues of their health care.
She says they want all the health care services from one
place not having such services at different points at the health facility.
Irungu says the young people also wants the Services which
are available, affordable and accessible as well as decentralizations of health
services within the Community.
“The young people also want ARTs given even in the
Pharmacies within the community. They also want health care providers who understands
and respects them and maintain confidentiality,” Dr. Irungu says.
She adds that there should also be a process of Public
participation regarding the young people healthcare that include whether they
want special clinics for their services or not.
“They want support from parents and peers and the community
needs to be fully informed on the issues of HIV as well as Programs that enable
the AYP to enjoy their youth age but responsibly,” she adds.
Impact research and development Organization Director Prof
Kawango Agot says young people should be given a chance so as to discuss their
issues freely and come up with an amicable solution to the problems facing
them.
“It is very important to have the voices of the young in
addressing the issues affecting them and tell us what we need to do
differently,” Prof. Kawango says.
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