A warning alarm has been registered in the minds of Taita Taveta residents, following the a lack of ARVs and condoms in both public and private hospitals.
This disclosure becomes comes to light, after a study done by the country’s health service department, days after high schooler pregnancy cases spiked, coming to more than 2000.
As per the review, as revealed by the County Executive Committee Member accountable for Health Services, John Mwakima, Voi Sub-area is leading in the teenager pregnancies, with more than 900 young girls impregnated.
Talking in the wake of charing a quarterly County HIV meeting held at the Voi youth offices, Mwakima communicated that early pregnancies turned into an issue for the County Government, after the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
“THIS CAME ABOUT DURING THE START OF THIS YEAR, WE ARE RUNNING LOW ON CONDOMS AND ALSO RUNNING LOW ON ARVS”
Haki Africa raised the worry a few months ago with the health department denying there being the lack.
HIV/AIDS patients had to go to private facilities for ARVs, where they needed to pay large sums for the medication, as learnt from Haki Africa official, Alex Mbela.
“I ALREADY HAD BEEN TOLD THAT THE HIV PATIENTS ARE SUFFERING AND PERSONALLY I KNOW OF ONE WHO WAS FORCED TO GO TO A PRIVATE FACILITY TO GET THE DRUGS AT A COST THAT IS HEFTY, THE COUNTY HAS TO DO SOMETHING.”
The shortage comes in the midst of a colossal obligation dispute of over Ksh 60 million, that the country owes the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority(KEMSA) that has impacted the stream and supply of drugs into the county for over 5 month.
The county however, as recorded by Mwakima, is putting forth a valiant effort to sensitize residents about the rising number of teen pregnancies.
“AS A DEPARTMENT WE ARE TRYING TO PUT UP MEASURES TO CURB THIS PREDICAMENT WE ARE AS TRYING TO REACH OUT TO OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO SEE HOW THEY CAN HELP US BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.”
