NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 23 – Even as the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is set to mark the 20th anniversary on January 28, 2023, stakeholders have taken time to reflect on the remarkable live-saving impact through the program, with statistics showing that 25 millions lives have so far been saved.
PEPFAR which is the largest donor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS was announced by Ex- US President George W. Bush 20 years ago, and US global Aids Coordinator and Special Representative for Health Diplomacy John Nkengasong hailed the 20 year milestone saying since its inception the has program has not only saved lives, but also changed the trajectory of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Through the PEPFAR program, Nkengasong reported that 5.5 million children born by HIV positive mothers have been born free of the disease.
“We have come a long way and from a very deep hole when life was hopeless, 20 years ago before PEPFAR medics were just counting deaths because there was nothing they could do. ARVs were only accessible to developed countries and only a few who could afford them. Through PEPFAR intervention the story has changed and hope has been restored,” stated Mr. Nkengasong.
Mr. Nkengasong said even as PEPFAR marks two decades of positive impact among countries and communities, it’s important not to lose focus in reaching the Sustainable Development Goal target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. commitment of ending the pandemic by year 2030.
He noted that it’s doable if countries and communities continue to develop more partnerships and not backtracking on the gains made over the years.
He also expressed his appreciation for Kenya Government’s commitment in the fight against the epidemic, after meeting President William Ruto at Statehouse.
PEPFAR has invested more than 8 billion dollars to improve health outcomes for millions of Kenyans.
“We might see the end of this soon if we apply ourselves rightly. I was very impressed after the President told me that we can even get this done in the next five years,” he stated.
US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman lauded Kenya government’s efforts in ending the epidemic, saying its on the right trajectory.
She however cautioned that vulnerable groups that still need attention especially young girls, sex workers and men having sex with men.
On her part, Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha assured that the government will not drop the ball in the fight against the pandemic.
CS Nakhumicha noted that HIV infections in the last 10 years have reduced by 68 per cent, while HIV-related deaths have reduced by 57 per cent.
In addition, CS Nakhumicha reported that the Ministry has rolled out interventions aimed at curbing new infections among teenagers including carrying out sensitization and providing condoms to institutions.
“The country’s HIV prevalence stands at 4.3 per cent, with about 1.4 million living with the disease. However Generally the infections have reduced from 75,000 in 2010 to 32,000 in 2021,” stated Nakhumicha.
