62 HIV infections occur among adolescents

The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) has raised concern over the rising cases of new HIV infections among adolescents aged below 24 years.

Data from the council shows that out of the 427 new infections that are recorded in the country every week, 62 occur among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years.

The country records 61 new HIV infections every day.

The same age group records 23 HIV deaths every week.

The 2023 HIV estimates show that even though Kenya is on track towards the reduction of new HIV infections, the infections are increasing in previously low-burden counties.

This, according to Joyce Musimbi from NSDCC shows changes in transmission dynamics.

“If we do not target them, if we don’t get interventions for them and we don’t take care we will reach a point where our population will be majorly the older population,” she said.

“We are concerned about the adolescents and the young people simply because there are things that affect them that put them at risk of HIV and AIDS.” 

Musimbi said the adolescents are battling with the overlapping challenge of new HIV infections, unintended pregnancies, and sexual and gender-based violence.

The triple threat among adolescents and young women aged between 10 and 19 years has become a  driver of HIV infections due to sexual risk and vulnerability.

According to the data, adolescents aged between 10 to 19 years account for 18 per cent of all ante-natal care attendances and 36 per cent of all sexual and gender-based violence cases.