The World AIDS Campaign focus on Zero Ads related deaths, signifies a push towards greater access to treatment for all; a call for governments to act now. A demand that they honour promises like the Abuja declaration and that African governments at very least hit agreed targets for domestic spending on health care for all. It’s a global campaign that spotlights how our fundamental right to health is intrinsically and inextricably linked to other basic rights. The right to food, shelter, freedom, clean water and safety. Crucial too is access to affordable life saving quality medicines free from the crippling effects of excessive profit taking. In the coming months the World AIDS Campaign will be spotlighting a range Getting to Zero initiatives to help see an end to AIDS related deaths

The 10 goals for 2015

1. Sexual transmissions of HIV reduced by half, including among young people, men who have sex with men and transmission in the context of sex wok,
2. Vertical transmission of HIV eliminated and AIDS-related maternal deaths reduced by half
3. All new HIV infections prevented among people who use drugs
4. Universal access to antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV who are enlightened for treatment
5. TB deaths among people living with HIV reduced by half
6. All people living with HIV and households affected by HIV are addressed in all national social protection strategies and have access to essential care and support
7. Countries with punitive laws and practices around HIV transmission, sex work, drug use or homosexuality that blocks effective response reduced HIV-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence eliminated in half of the countries that have such restrictions
8. HIV-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence eliminated in half of the countries that have such restrictions
9. HIV-specific needs of women and girls are addressed in at least half of all national HIV responses
10. Zero tolerance for gender-based violence

World AIDS Day- Oloitokitok

1986 is a year that will remain a dark sport in the records of Kenya as a country as well as the citizens. This was the dreaded year that the first HIV/AIDS case was recorded and soon after that the numbers of the victims increased day by day.  In a short time, one by one, two by two and…, the victims began dropping dead! This was such a deadly invasion, and as if that was not bad enough, before the medics could barely understand how to deal with it, the enemy within- STIGMA, struck, and began ruling.  1n the 1990s, the situation got tough and the available home-born scientists were tasked to fish out the behaviour of the virus. Later on, the enemy within was fished out and war declared on it- War on stigma.

Several years later now, the war is close to be over. The good news doesn’t just stop at eradicating stigma amongst the affected and infected, but to mention that there is hope for better health to the HIVAIDS victims is sweet melody in their years.

This was clearly seen during this year’s World Aids Day in Oloitokitok, organized by ABANTU and other partners. The entire town was filled with jubilation and songs. Clearly, there was a reason to live again! The message was passed through a procession that ran through the main road from Isinet River to Irinet town with banners raised up high in the air , all reading the message: “Getting to Zero” Zero stigma, Zero infection rates and Zero new AIDS infection.

The message was also passed in songs and dances, plays and poem, the citizens declaring to live even longer. They were however, grateful, that the government is taking initiative to help them acquire drugs- ARVS and nutritional education. In attendance was the area DC who was categorical on zero tolerance on those spreading stigma. He informed the citizens that the government was working hard at ensuring that the help they needed was given to them without discrimination.

Medially speaking, the statistics have risen each counting year. The representative from the Ministry of Reproductive Health, informed the citizens that 2009/2010 the number had increased to 7286 from 5100 the previous counting year, and the most infected were women from the communities. He however, pointed out that the number could increase should behaviour change not the respected. He asked the youth to be careful of their sexuality and use protection whenever they were getting involved in sexual activities, seeing that they were the leaders of tomorrow.

In his message, the NGO representative Mr. Gideon Ayodo highlighted that there are different perspectives of stigma pointing out social, psychological, economic and spiritual and urged the citizens to each brother’s keeper. He went ahead to thank the other partners for the work well done.

For several years in a row, ABANTU has been efficiently and effectively creating awareness on the negative aspects of stigma associated with HIVAIDS to the people in Oloitokitok and its environs.