Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has confirmed Kenya’s election as the Chair of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS during the 53rd Coordinating Board meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland.
The CS welcomed Kenya’s position in the global body and said the position will help the country’s efforts in combating the HIV/AIDS menace.
“Kenya has been elected as the Chair of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS during the 53rd programme Coordinating Board held in Geneva, Switzerland, for the year 2024.
“This decision puts Kenya on the driver’s seat in important decision-making on both local and international levels due to our capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS,” Nakhumicha said in a statement on X.
The top government health official also explained how the goal of ending HIV/AIDS in seven years can be achieved.
“Social and structural barriers continue to increase the vulnerability of HIV infections amongst the population, particularly affecting adolescent girls and young women.
“We must, therefore, make deliberate prevention efforts by improving our understanding of factors that are a cause and driver of AIDS in our communities for us to achieve the collective goal of ending AIDS by 2030,” she added.
Nakhumicha also pointed out the exact steps that should be implemented in order to achieve the vision.
“As we embrace the responsibility to drive this impactful change, we will intensify prevention efforts, expand access to treatment, activate awareness and sensitization campaigns, as well as champion inclusiveness as we focus on building a future where HIV/AIDS is not a threat to our communities,” her statement continued to read.
Pledges
The meeting, in which Kenya was elected, took place midway through the Global AIDS Strategy as UNAIDS rebuilds its focus on achieving the 2025 targets.
Meanwhile, several donors pledged increased contributions to UNAIDS, with Ivory Coast, the Netherlands, and USA leading. France announced an increase of 50% in their contributions as Germany, Australia, and Luxembourg also announced additional contributions.
This year’s meeting was guided by the Let Communities Lead clarion call, where the emphasis was on the critical role communities play in responding to HIV and how underfunding and harmful barriers are holding back their lifesaving work and obstructing the end of AIDS.
