Kenya: UNAIDS boss commends Aids fight, urges State to raise more funds

[Guest guest]

UNAIDS boss commends Aids fight, urges State to raise more funds

Published on 13/01/2010

By Beauttah Omanga and Orengo

An ambitious anti-Aids campaign was launched with the Prime Minister Raila

Odinga calling for change of approach to ensure an Aids free generation.

And while the UNAIDS Director Michel Sidibe commended Kenya for success in fight

against the scourge, he challenged the coalition leadership to look for

internally generated resources to guarantee Aids patients a future.

" It is high time Kenya launched new taxes among them through air tickets and the

use of mobile phones to get monies for the Aids related support programmes, "

said Sidibe.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga (second left) with Special Programmes Minister Naomi

Shaban (left), UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe (second right) and

Medical Health Minister Anyang' Nyong'o at KICC during the launch of Kenya

National Aids Strategic Plan, Tuesday. [PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU /STANDARD]

The PM said the Government would put attention to implementation of a strategic

plan he launched yesterday to reverse effects of the disease.

" The Government appreciates donors' support, which has seen Kenya make huge

strides in reversing the effects that have affected us. But as we bank on the

partners' financial assistance, as a Government, we are looking for means to

generate our resources to address the vice, " said Raila.

Millenium goals

The PM described 2010 as a year that Kenya must achieve its millennium goals,

among them reduction of the number of those affected and an increment in the

number of those using ARVs.

" I am happy we are making good progress in reducing infections. We campaigned

for change of retrogressive cultures and today I stand here a happy man that my

community in Nyanza heeded my advice and about 35,000 male adults have so far

been circumcised, " he said.

He said the Government is committed to providing quality health services to

Kenyans, adding the Government has scaled up its interventions in supporting

those affected estimated at 1million with 285,000 under ARVs. Raila and Sidibe

spoke at KICC yesterday during the launch of a strategic plan.

The PM said his office would co-ordinate the plan's implementation by bringing

on board concerned departments with results expected by 2013.

Sidibe said Kenya was a living example in Africa, where Government direct

intervention to reduce the effects of Aids has been reduced.

" Here in Kenya, Aids-related deaths have fallen by almost one-third since 2002, "

he said.

He, however, expressed concern over new infections, and called on Kenyans to go

for tests.

Impressive results

Public Health Minister Beth Mugo said women and girls were the most vulnerable.

Medical Services Minister Anyang' Nyong'o said community-based anti-infection

campaigns were essential in reducing infections, adding in the last six years,

Aids-related services offered by the Government had been decentralised yielding

to impressive results.

At the same time, President Kibaki has said the Government will step up the

fight against HIV/Aids.

Kibaki made a passionate plea to Kenyans to upscale the fight against the

disease. Speaking at Harambee House when he met with the Executive Director of

the United Nations Programme on HIV and Aids Michel Sidibe, Kibaki said the

Government is tackling the war against HIV as part of Kenya's development

strategy.

" Kenya has heavily invested in HIV prevention and treatment, " the President

said.

He said individuals must make deliberate choices to keep HIV and Aids at bay and

reassured that there is renewed political commitment in the fight against the

disease.

The Head of State cited the effective prevention of mother to child transmission

meant to ensure children born of HIV positive mothers are HIV free. He said the

Government was committed to enacting a National Aids Control Agency Act before

the end of 2010 to strengthen co-ordination and accountability for resources.

Mr Sidibe thanked Kenya for supporting his campaign that led to his appointment

as the Executive Director of UNAIDS.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/news/InsidePage.php?id=2000000840 & cid=159 &

[Guest guest]

UNAIDS boss commends Aids fight, urges State to raise more funds

Published on 13/01/2010

By Beauttah Omanga and Orengo

An ambitious anti-Aids campaign was launched with the Prime Minister Raila

Odinga calling for change of approach to ensure an Aids free generation.

And while the UNAIDS Director Michel Sidibe commended Kenya for success in fight

against the scourge, he challenged the coalition leadership to look for

internally generated resources to guarantee Aids patients a future.

" It is high time Kenya launched new taxes among them through air tickets and the

use of mobile phones to get monies for the Aids related support programmes, "

said Sidibe.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga (second left) with Special Programmes Minister Naomi

Shaban (left), UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe (second right) and

Medical Health Minister Anyang' Nyong'o at KICC during the launch of Kenya

National Aids Strategic Plan, Tuesday. [PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU /STANDARD]

The PM said the Government would put attention to implementation of a strategic

plan he launched yesterday to reverse effects of the disease.

" The Government appreciates donors' support, which has seen Kenya make huge

strides in reversing the effects that have affected us. But as we bank on the

partners' financial assistance, as a Government, we are looking for means to

generate our resources to address the vice, " said Raila.

Millenium goals

The PM described 2010 as a year that Kenya must achieve its millennium goals,

among them reduction of the number of those affected and an increment in the

number of those using ARVs.

" I am happy we are making good progress in reducing infections. We campaigned

for change of retrogressive cultures and today I stand here a happy man that my

community in Nyanza heeded my advice and about 35,000 male adults have so far

been circumcised, " he said.

He said the Government is committed to providing quality health services to

Kenyans, adding the Government has scaled up its interventions in supporting

those affected estimated at 1million with 285,000 under ARVs. Raila and Sidibe

spoke at KICC yesterday during the launch of a strategic plan.

The PM said his office would co-ordinate the plan's implementation by bringing

on board concerned departments with results expected by 2013.

Sidibe said Kenya was a living example in Africa, where Government direct

intervention to reduce the effects of Aids has been reduced.

" Here in Kenya, Aids-related deaths have fallen by almost one-third since 2002, "

he said.

He, however, expressed concern over new infections, and called on Kenyans to go

for tests.

Impressive results

Public Health Minister Beth Mugo said women and girls were the most vulnerable.

Medical Services Minister Anyang' Nyong'o said community-based anti-infection

campaigns were essential in reducing infections, adding in the last six years,

Aids-related services offered by the Government had been decentralised yielding

to impressive results.

At the same time, President Kibaki has said the Government will step up the

fight against HIV/Aids.

Kibaki made a passionate plea to Kenyans to upscale the fight against the

disease. Speaking at Harambee House when he met with the Executive Director of

the United Nations Programme on HIV and Aids Michel Sidibe, Kibaki said the

Government is tackling the war against HIV as part of Kenya's development

strategy.

" Kenya has heavily invested in HIV prevention and treatment, " the President

said.

He said individuals must make deliberate choices to keep HIV and Aids at bay and

reassured that there is renewed political commitment in the fight against the

disease.

The Head of State cited the effective prevention of mother to child transmission

meant to ensure children born of HIV positive mothers are HIV free. He said the

Government was committed to enacting a National Aids Control Agency Act before

the end of 2010 to strengthen co-ordination and accountability for resources.

Mr Sidibe thanked Kenya for supporting his campaign that led to his appointment

as the Executive Director of UNAIDS.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/news/InsidePage.php?id=2000000840 & cid=159 &