Young people in Kenya face three major threats, according to the Ministry of Health. These are teenage pregnancies, adolescent HIV infections and sexual and gender-based violence, collectively known as the Triple Threat.
The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council is now implementing Kenya's Commitment Plan to end the Triple Threat by 2030.
The urgency of this mission is underscored by the thousands of young people who fall victim every year. The statistics are alarming: A total of 254,753 pregnancies were reported among adolescents aged between 10 to 19 in 2023.
Within the same year, 20,143 cases of SGBV were reported among adolescents and thousands of HIV infections. Most of these young people will require lifelong treatment. Some do not make it and young people constitute the highest number of deaths from advanced HIV.
We support Dr Ruth Laibon-Masha, CEO of the NSDCC, who asserts that these threats must be eradicated, rather than merely reduced. The Commitment Plan being implemented requires the collective support of everyone, including all state institutions, partners and private actors.
A healthy young population is crucial for the economic development of the country. When our youth thrive, the nation prospers, benefiting everyone.
It is imperative to recognise that the government alone cannot end gender violence, teenage pregnancies, or new HIV infections. It requires a concerted effort from all of us—communities, families, educational institutions and civil society.
Quote of the Day: "Leadership is all about right and wrong."
Edward Heath
The British Prime Minister was born on July 9, 1916