A lot done, a lot more to do.

Kenya is severely affected by the HIV/AIDS virus such that in November 1999 President Moi Kibaki called the situation a National Emergency when it was believed the prevalence rate was as 14%.  Since then, with a nationwide intense awareness campaign the rate has fallen to 6.9%.

However, this figure is still unacceptably high with an estimated 1.5 million people are living with HIV; around 1.2 million children have been orphaned by AIDS; and in 2009 80,000 people died from AIDS related illnesses.  So there’s still plenty of work to be done to achieve Kenya’s Vision 2030 aim of a HIV free society.

Some statistics about HIV/AIDS in Kenya:

• Prevalence: National 7.1%  Coast Province 8.1%
• HIV rate amongst women 8.1%  Men 5.4%
• Almost 2/3rds of people living with HIV/AIDS are women

Whilst there has been huge strides combating the virus in Kenya, there is still a huge fight ahead if we are to rid our communities of this dreadful disease.

For more information and statistics of HIV/AIDS in Kenya, click here.