Quarterly Score Card Report
Quarter 4 Score Card Report
Kenya steals the show at the AIDS 2016 Conference.
NACC Director Dr. Nduku Kilonzo (Left) with Bill Gates-Founder and Chair of Bill AND Melinda Gates Foundation during a Special Session on Accelerating the Decline of the Burden and Incidence of HIV in Sub Saharan Africa.
Read More – Kenya lauded for leading in AIDS response at the AIDS 2016 Conference
Global AIDS Report
The world has committed to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. How to reach this bold target within the Sustainable Development Goals is the central question facing the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS, to be held from 8 to 10 June 2016. The extraordinary accomplishments of the last 15 years have inspired global confidence that this target can be achieved. UNAIDS recommends a Fast-Track approach:
Maisha Maarifa Research Hub
The National AIDS Control Council (NACC) is charged with accountability for HIV and AIDS results in Kenya. To strengthen evidence for HIV programming and access to research information and knowledge, NACC with support from stakeholders has established the Kenya HIV, SRH and co-morbidities Research Hub dubbed ‘Maisha Maarifa Hub’.
Key functions of the Maisha Maarifa Hub
The Research Hub is an online-based site that will amalgamate information and promote evidence-based programming and policy formulation through research by:
- Availing research reports of studies in Kenya that may not have been drafted into peer-reviewed published manuscripts which often contain rich quality information that is not shared in any platform
- Providing updated information on ongoing HIV research to reduce duplication in protocol and proposal development among stakeholders
The Research Hub will be interactive in the following ways:
- Communities of practice will be established to provide a forum for deliberation on critical HIV-related research issues, debate and advise the NACC and other governmental agencies
- Partners & stakeholders will access the Hub and upload information as and when needed through an approval process
- The database will be open to partners and stakeholders subject to a set of guidelines, thus allowing researchers to interact on study and methodology.
The National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) provided approval for NACC to collect data from Ethical Review Committee (ERCs) which is and continues to be updated.
Web Address of Maisha Maarifa Hub
The Maisha Maarifa Hub is an online platform that can be accessed through an internet enabled phone or laptop/PC with internet access.
The system can be accessed through the following web address: http://www.maishamaarifa.or.ke
LOGIN IN TO THE SYSTEM
Only partners who have registered to the portal and their registration details approved by NACC will be able to login to the system.
The registered partners will be able to upload their approved research work to the system and participate in online discussions within the communities of practice section. Non-registered partners will be able to access other services in the Hub.
THE MAISHA MAARIFA HUB HOMEPAGE
Project X Party: A Response From The National AIDS Control Council
The attention of National AIDS Control Council (NACC) has been drawn to an advertisement in social media of a party dubbed “Project X” involving sexual orgies, alcohol and drug abuse, targeting people of all ages and especially young people. The NACC wishes to state the following in response to such advertisements and parties:
- These are coming at a time when NACC and other partners are implementing Kenya’s Fast – Track Plan to End HIV and AIDS among Adolescents and Young People that was launched in September 2015 by H.E. the President of Republic of Kenya, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta.
- It should further be noted that in 2014, about 29 per cent of all new HIV infections in the country occurred among adolescents and young people and that AIDS was (and remains) the leading cause of morbidity (ill-health) and mortality (death) among this population group.
- The NACC strongly discourages any such parties, functions or events that provide a fertile ground for participants to engage in activities that not only fuel HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections, but also ruins their overall character and the ability to lead responsible lives.
- The NACC therefore strongly supports the position taken by the Kenya Police Service in banning the planned Project X Party and any other similar events.
- While NACC does not dictate how adults exercise their sexual freedom, it is important to point out that the freedom should be exercised responsibly and within the law, without putting people (and especially children, adolescents and young people) at risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections; and promoting behavior that is geared towards ruining their lives. Therefore the NACC strongly advises that all people including adolescents and the youth to keep off such events and activities.
- “Weed” and other illegal drugs do not make anybody more attractive, intelligent or successful in life – they actually cause dependence and destroy a person’s life, making the person not attain his/her full potential in life. Girls and boys (and even adults) who are “stoned”, end up either very badly hurt or possibly dead.
- The NACC and her partners continue to support access to a diverse package of interventions geared towards protecting people from HIV and other related infections by guaranteeing ease of access to the interventions within health facilities and the community across the country. Any person at risk of exposure to HIV and other related infections is encouraged to seek the services available.
- The NACC wishes to inform Adolescent and Young people to seek for concrete and proper information on matters HIV from the NACC website (www.nacc.or.ke).
Policy Brief On Domestic Financing Of The Kenya Hiv And Aids Research Agenda 2014-2019
The Kenya HIV and AIDS Research Agenda (2014-2019) identified top priority areas and is costed at USD 109 million of gross resources needs.90-95% of HIV and AIDS Research funding inKenya is largely donor funded and is projected to reach a 20% annual reduction by 2019—this threatens the scientific gains and goals of ending AIDS.
Read more HIV_and_AIDS_Policy_Brief_on_Domestic_Financing_of_the_Kenya_HIV_and_AIDS
KENYA COUNTY PROFILES
This document contains data based on 2014 HIV estimates that can be used to design county specific HIV and AIDS programmes that respond to the unique context of each of the 47 counties
12-YEAR-OLD KENYAN BOY WITH HIV GETS STANDING OVATION AT UNGAS MEETING.
12-year-old Elijah Zachary Lamaiyan Simel meets President Uhuru Kenyatta after delivering the opening remarks at a United Nations conference on AIDS. Elijah, who is living with HIV, received a standing ovation from delegates at the UNGAS conference.
In Summary
- He received a standing ovation from hundreds of delegates after delivering the opening remarks at a United Nations conference on AIDS on Sunday.
- President Kenyatta responded to Elijah’s remarks during his own speech to the audience of diplomats, medical professionals and AIDS activists from around the world.
- Elijah had been invited to speak at an event keyed to the Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted at a UN Summit meeting on Friday.
A 12-year-old Kenyan boy with HIV received a standing ovation from hundreds of delegates after delivering the opening remarks at a United Nations conference on AIDS on Sunday.”We are children, we have rights, we have a future,” Elijah Zachary Lamaiyan Simel, a student at Nyawai Academy in Nairobi, told the UN event on Ending AIDS by 2030 that was co-chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Presidents, thank you for making the promise to end AIDS by 2030. Please keep your promise,” he told the leaders in attendance. Elijah added that an essential step in combating the epidemic is to erase the stigma attached to those with HIV.”The mother of my best friend told him not to play with me and that made me very sad,” Elijah said. President Kenyatta responded to Elijah’s remarks during his own speech to the audience of diplomats, medical professionals and AIDS activists from around the world.
BRAVE YOUNG MAN
“Today, young Kenyan boy has taken the lead,” President Kenyatta said, referring to Elijah as “a brave young man and an advocate, a champion of young people throughout the world living with HIV.” Wearing a bow tie and dark suit with a red HIV and AIDS ribbon on his lapel, Elijah made his comments with a smiling poise while standing beside his mother, Evelyn Simaloi. He said his dream is to have earned a doctorate in science by 2030, when he will be 27 years old. Elijah had been invited to speak at an event keyed to the Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted at a UN Summit meeting.
They include, among their targets, an end to the AIDS epidemic globally within 15 years.
PERSONALLY COMMITTED
President Kenyatta noted in his speech that he is “personally committed to Kenya becoming the first country in Africa to control the AIDS epidemic.”Outlining initiatives to achieve that objective, the Kenyan leader said that anti-retroviral medicines must continue to be available at affordable prices.
Kenya will advocate for that outcome at the World Trade Organization summit which will be held in Nairobi in December 2015, he added. President Kenyatta noted that as part of Kenya’s efforts to combat the epidemic he recently established an HIV situation room within the government. It gives easy access to the status of progress in investing in HIV and health in general, the president said.
Speech By H.E Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, President
Speech by His Excellency Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, C.G.H, President and Commander in Chief of the Defence forces of the Republic of Kenya at the official launch of Kenya’s Fast-Track Plan to End Adolescent AIDS and the HIV Situation Room at KICC, Nairobi on 17th September, 2015
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. Seven months today, at this same venue, I presided over the Global launch of the All In! Campaign, aimed at ending adolescent HIV and AIDS.
2. The campaign was informed by the knowledge that although we have made tremendous progress in reducing the HIV prevalence and initiated more than 800,000 Kenyans on life-long medication, thereby averting half a million deaths, our young people have been left behind.
3. Whereas, we had reached over 80% of adults in need of Anti- Retroviral Therapy, we had only reached less than half of our young people. I made it very clear at the time that this was not acceptable in anywhere in Africa.
4. Our country faces a unique situation of an exploding youth bulge. This population must be turned into a dividend in order to harness the power of Africa rising. It is this population that faces significant challenges such as new HIV infections, with AIDS being the leading cause of death.
5. Exploiting the much anticipated youth dividend means extra- ordinary action on the part of leaders and individual Kenyans to safeguard the lives of young Kenyans.
6. It is for this reason that I am back here to launch Kenya’s fast- track plan to end HIV and AIDS among adolescents and young people. I wish to commend the Ministries of Health and Education and the multi- sectoral and inter-ministerial National Steering Committee that developed this plan, drawing on our National HIV and AIDS strategic framework to outline priority interventions with clear targets for Ministries, Counties and partners.
7. I am pleased that the plan is premised on the UNAIDS90-90-90 targets by 2030, and contributing to global goals as espoused in the Sustainable Development Goals that all countries will be signing to next week in New York. Ladies and Gentlemen, 8. The fast-track plan sets out clear targets to be met.
9. The revolutionary Kenya HIV prevention roadmap is clear that if we adopt an approach targeting population, location and risk profiles, we will avert 1.1 million new infections, 760,000 deaths, 11,000 of these being children.With this plan, we will ensure 80% of Kenyan adolescents and youth are tested and aware of their HIV status. 10. My Government will enroll an additional 130,000 children into anti-retroviral therapy and scale up implementation of the HIV curriculum in all secondary schools.
11. Achieving these goals requires resources, and thus in February, I committed to increased investment in health and HIV. I am proud to note that in the current financial year, my Government has allocated 2.6billion Kenya shillings to HIV, TB and malaria.
12. This plan also leverages existing financial, technical and human support by development partners such as the Global Fund and DANIDA as well as including the initiatives to scale up HIV care and treatment for children and young women announced by the President of theUnited States,H.E Barrack Obama, during his recent visit to Kenya. I urge all
partners and stakeholders to commit to achieving the objectives laid out in this plan and I look forward to receiving progress reports. Ladies and Gentlemen,
13. As we know, what gets measured, gets done. In February this year, I gave a directive to be kept abreast of the HIV, reproductive, maternal and child health situation in Kenya on a regular basis.
14. I am pleased that an Internet based dashboard, the Kenya HIV situation room, has now been availed at my office is. I am very delighted to launch it today.
15. The use of ICT is a priority for my Government as reflected in Kenya’s data revolution conference hosted by the Deputy President two weeks ago, where different sectors explored how ICT can revolutionize data use. The Kenya HIV situation room is one such innovation. It is an intelligent system that draws data from several independent sub-systems including the public sector Maisha reporting system, as well as Counties and health facilities, and presents a national picture in simple graphics for myself and policy makers to make decisions and track progress.
16. The system has capacity for infinite expansion hence provides a platform for continuous improvement in the use of technology for development. I am informed that Counties are expected to have their specific situation rooms that provide one-stop shops for each County to track its progress, plan and allocate resources.
17. I commend the developers, the UNAIDS and the National AIDS Control Council for this product that is also available in tablet devices.
18. I also acknowledge the support of the Japanese Government for their financial support for this situation room and also acknowledge the presence of H.E. the Ambassador.
Ladies and Gentlemen, 19. As I conclude, I would like to remind us that these investments are aimed at safeguarding our children, our future. At the All In launch, I was particularly touched by young Elijah, who shared his personal struggles with stigma and discrimination, noting that this was common for our young people living with HIV. 20. The consequences of this are that young people are less likely to disclose their HIV status, get tested, adopt preventive behavior or access treatment. This is unacceptable because our constitution guarantees every
child the right to education, the highest attainable standard of health and protection from all forms of discrimination.
21. It is therefore my desire that every young Kenyan living with HIV does not face discrimination in our schools and communities.
22. Shared prosperity will only be achieved, when we have shared responsibility. I am committed to the future of our young people and I will lead by example. I am therefore today launching the campaign to end HIV stigma and discrimination against our children. We cannot change anyone’s HIV status, but we can change our attitude. So,LET’S STOP STIGMA, SASAHIVI.
I thank you all. May God bless you.
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