Kibabii University on Friday the 1st December 2023 joined Bungoma County, the nation and the entire world to mark World Aids Day which was commemorated at Amutala Grounds in Kimilili, Kimilili Sub-county. The event which is marked worldwide on every 1st December is one that celebrates the achievements made in the fight against the HIV and Aids pandemic with this year’s theme being “Let Communities Lead”.
The celebration which was graced by Her Excellency the Deputy Governor of Bungoma County brought together communities in Bungoma of persons living with HIV and Aids, different stakeholders including the national government and the general public to keep tabs on the strides made by Bungoma County in fighting this pandemic. Addressing the event the Deputy Governor thanked the various stakeholders who bring resources to help in the fight against HIV and Aids. She informed the audience of the commitment Bungoma County Government had in incorporating community health workers in this war through training, equipping and facilitating their efforts to reach every member of the community to ensure a success in fighting this pandemic. She reminded the audience that the war against this scourge can only be won if there were joint efforts from every member of the community.
Bungoma County CECM for Health addressing the event told members that it was unfortunate that Bungoma County has been erasing the gains that had been made in the fight against HIV and Aids as was evident in the statistics from researches being done. He however informed them that the administration has come up with strategies to reverse the bad trends through investing in communities and actively involve every member in this fight. Cuba is the only country that has managed to completely eradicate the Aids pandemic through extensive efforts that involved every member of the community according to the County Director of Health.
Kibabii University as an institution has and is actively participating in the war against HIV and Aids through a number of activities that have included public sensitizations, testing, guidance and counselling, distribution of important medication, distribution of condoms both within the institution and the surrounding communities, training of peer educators who reach out to different segments of the students population to sensitize them, teaching about HIV and Aids in the different curriculums among others.
We all have an active role to play in fighting HIV and Aids.
