Oluga Urges Counties to Tackle Rising Youth HIV Infections

The State Department for Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga has urged county governments to incorporate HIV prevention strategies into their healthcare systems, citing a troubling surge in new infections among adolescents and young adults.

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Speaking during the opening of the Joint Annual Program Review Workshop on the Syndemic Strategic Framework in Naivasha, Dr. Oluga expressed concern over the rising number of HIV cases in young people aged 15 to 24.

“We have issues of prevention that we want counties to now start integrating into their healthcare services,” said Dr. Oluga, adding that nearly 6,000 new HIV infections had been recorded in that age group a trend he described as deeply troubling.

Dr. Oluga noted that the Ministry of Health had developed a coordinated prevention mechanism at the county level, engaging both surveillance officers and community health promoters to strengthen local responses.

“We are working to consolidate efforts and ensure our interventions are both sustainable and resilient going forward,” he stated.

He linked the high infection rates among teens to gaps in education and weak enforcement of preventive measures, stressing the urgency of targeted and comprehensive strategies to safeguard vulnerable populations.

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The workshop, convened by the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), brought together key stakeholders to review progress in managing syndemic diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, and to assess the rollout of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) at the county level.

“This workshop provides an opportunity to assess county-level progress, but more importantly, to shape how we move forward in responding to syndemic diseases and implementing Universal Health Coverage,” Dr. Oluga said.

He further noted that changing dynamics in the health sector’s funding landscape had necessitated a reorganization of financial frameworks to better support efforts to tackle HIV and related health threats across the country.