Lodwar – December 1, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

The County Government, led by the Deputy Governor, Dr John Erus, today commemorated World AIDS Day at the Livestock Market Grounds in Lodwar, Turkana Central. Marked globally every December 1, this day provides a crucial platform to reflect on progress, honour lives lost and renew commitments to ending AIDS.

This year’s theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS-Response,” calls for unified efforts to confront the triple threat of new HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, and sexual and gender-based violence, challenges that particularly affect adolescents and young people.

The Deputy Governor opened the ceremony by honouring the more than 32 million people worldwide who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. He acknowledged progress made toward achieving zero new infections, eliminating stigma, and reducing AIDS-related deaths. He urged the public to embrace compassion over stigma.

Dr Erus reaffirmed that the County Government has aligned its efforts with the Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework, ensuring that interventions are evidence-based and suited to the unique needs of pastoralist communities. He stated, “We are strengthening community health services and expanding outreach to remote and nomadic communities to reduce disparities in access to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment,”

He added that the County Government is integrating HIV services into the Universal Health Coverage agenda so that “every resident, regardless of location or background, can access quality, affordable care,”

The DG elaborated further, “We are also intensifying efforts toward the triple elimination of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B among pregnant and lactating women,”

Providing an update on Turkana’s current situation, Dr Erus noted that, “An estimated 16,925 of our residents are living with HIV including 1,013 children,” He reported that prevalence has increased to 1.9%, with new infections rising by 63.4 % and AIDS-related deaths by 112% over the last year. “While 95% of people living with HIV know their status, only 58% of diagnosed individuals are currently on ART, and just 32 % have achieved viral suppression,”

The County Executive for Health and Sanitation, Dr Epem Joseph Esekon, acknowledged that stigma had reduced significantly compared to earlier years when HIV was perceived as a death sentence. “This has been greatly contributed by ongoing access to medication,”

The CECM emphasized the importance of reducing mother-to-child transmissions and lowering infection rates among young people and adolescents. Addressing the youth directly, he said they should “abstain from sex or practise safe sex,” He also encouraged men to take advantage of county health facilities offering male circumcision services, which reduce HIV transmission rates.

Dr Epem announced a new integrated health intervention along the A1 Highway, explaining that “the
Department of Health and Sanitation is working on an upcoming joint intervention to reduce the infections along the highway beginning with HPV vaccines for young girls below the age of 14, cancer screening, TB screening, HIV testing and counselling, alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation services, and SHA registration drives among others,”

Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Services, Agnes Mana, urged the community to work together to eliminate stigma and address the mental health impacts associated with it. She warned parents and guardians of the rising vulnerability among young people due to increased alcohol and drug abuse.

“Our young people aged between 15 and 24 years of age contribute 85% of new adult HIV infections,” and emphasized that programs “should align to work together to save the young generation and work together to reduce the mother-to-child transmissions,” CCO Mana stated.

Chief Officer for Gender and Youth Affairs, Epuu Joseph, stressed the importance of self-sufficiency given the shrinking donor support. He, reminded residents that “our health is first our personal responsibility in protecting ourselves, and we always need to remember that HIV/AIDS is not selective, and anyone can be infected at any time, hence need for collective action,”

CCO Epuu added that the day served as a reminder that we are now at a point when we have to focus on ensuring we are self-sustaining, self-supportive, and self-propagative even with limited resources.

Offering the national perspective, Lucy Wanjiku Njenga, Board Member at the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), stated that adolescents and young people account for 59 per cent of Kenya’s population but still bear a disproportionate HIV burden.

“Nearly 163,000 young people aged between 10 to 24 years, are living with HIV. New infections among adolescents aged 10–19 rose by 34% between 2023 and 2024,”

She urged all not to be tired of being advocates in overcoming disruption and ending AIDS among the young people and adolescents who make a big percentage of our population. “I am calling for amplified screening and testing in order to help those with HIV/AIDS know their status and begin their medications sooner,”

Representing supporting partners, Sr. Doris Mulongo, Health Coordinator at the Diocese of Lodwar, spoke about dwindling external support, saying, “We no longer have the luxury to depend on a line of partners to support such interventions.”

She encouraged integration of HIV services into broader health programs and the efficient use of available resources, stating, “We now have to integrate HIV/AIDS intervention in other health interventions and make use of the minimal resources to intensify the ongoing efforts,”

Deputy Director for Preventive and Promotive Services, Daniel Esimit, called on the public to take action.
He said, “We are here to amplify the need for continued fight against HIV/AIDS and we are inviting you, the public, to work with us in being advocates against stigma and empower the voices,”

The Deputy County Commissioner, Patrick Emase encouraged cooperation between the county government and partners in achieving the national goal of ending AIDS by 2030.

He urged vigilance against the triple threat and stressed the need for special attention to be given to girls, women, and the youth, noting that “We have to be extra careful to eliminate the triple threat and focus on our girls and women, and the youth who are mostly vulnerable,”

The Deputy Governor closed with a strong call to action “Let us protect our girls, educate our boys, and support one another in building stronger, healthier communities. Ending AIDS by 2030 is within reach, but only if we move forward together,”

The day concluded with a shared message of unity, responsibility, and determination. Despite rising infections and reduced donor support, speakers reaffirmed that ending AIDS in Turkana is possible through sustained collaboration, community ownership, and continued investment in prevention, treatment, and youth protection.

The organizing committee led by the County Multi-Sectoral Coordinator, Wamaya Rodgers and Dr Mercy Kawira, the Medical Officer of Health in Turkana Central were also present.

Partners present included Kenya Red Cross Society, AIC Health Ministries, Echuman Rehab, Lodwar Hills Hospital, Namo Hospital, Ejok FM, Diocese of Lodwar, and Turkana University.