Residents of Elgeyo Marakwet County are raising alarm over a growing shortage of condoms, a situation that has been blamed for a spike in new HIV infections.
According to Professor Sylvester Kimaiyo, Chief of Party at the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), over 6,600 people in the county are currently living with HIV, with women disproportionately affected.
“Statistics show that 6,609 people in Elgeyo Marakwet are living with HIV. Women account for 2.6% of the infected population, while men represent 1.3%,” Prof. Kimaiyo said.
The shortage of condoms has been identified as a major setback in ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of HIV in the region.
However, renewed funding from the U.S. government offers a temporary lifeline for prevention and treatment initiatives. The funding, while welcome, will only cover six months.
In response to the looming gap, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisely Rotich has assured residents that the county government is implementing internal strategies to sustain the fight against HIV beyond AMPATH’s current funding cycle.
