Kenya has been elected as the Chair of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
This happened during the 53rd United Nations AIDS Programme Coordinating Board held in Geneva, Switzerland for the year 2024.
Through her X account on Friday, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha said the decision puts Kenya in the driver's seat.
"Kenya is now on important decision-making on both local and international levels due to our capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS," she said.
Nakhumicha said social and structural barriers continue to increase the vulnerability of HIV infections amongst the population.
This she said particularly affects adolescent girls and young women.
"We must put 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 to end AIDS by 2030," the CS said.
She said embracing the responsibility to drive this impactful change, will intensify prevention efforts.
"This will also expand access to treatment, activate awareness and sensitization campaigns as well as champion inclusively as we focus on building a future where HIV/AIDs is not a threat to our communities," she said.
On December 2, she urged Kenyans to stop stigma and instead embrace HIV/Aids victims to reduce infections of the disease
Nakumicha said Kenya has over 1.4 million people living with HIV.
The CS said out of the 1.4 million, close to 96 per cent of infected people are on treatment which is why the government is ensuring the number doesn't increase.
"Under the Universal Health Coverage, no individual will be left behind," Nakhumicha said.
As the World Commemorated World Aids Day on December 1, Nakumicha said NHIF has not been all that effective and to address its shortcomings, the government has introduced the Social Health Authority.
The CS said under Primary Health Care, the government has ensured the Country has 100,000 community health promoters, who have been equipped with kits to serve efficiently.
