The United States government has rolled out a set of fresh measures to help fight the spread of HIV in Kenya. Through its Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and under the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the US has partnered with Kenya’s Ministry of Health to step up the country’s HIV prevention and treatment programs.
Key focus areas include widening access to HIV testing, strengthening early diagnosis for infants, and ensuring prompt treatment for both children and adults.
The CDC is working closely with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) to help decentralise HIV testing across counties and improve how quickly and easily people can access these services.
As part of the effort, the US also plans to upgrade testing laboratories across Kenya to detect HIV outbreaks faster. At present, only seven labs in the country are equipped to carry out advanced HIV testing, making it harder for many Kenyans to access critical services.
The CDC has been instrumental in upgrading testing centres, training health workers in blood collection and sample handling, and improving the accuracy of lab results.
Currently, it supports the country with over 11 million HIV diagnostic tests, 1.2 million viral load checks, 120,000 early infant diagnosis tests, and around 900,000 TB tests each year.
The US has also provided modern medical equipment through American technology firms and continues to offer technical support to improve testing systems. With around 1.378 million Kenyans living with HIV, of whom 97% are on treatment, the push for reliable testing and fast intervention remains vital.
This strengthened partnership marks a major step forward in Kenya’s fight against HIV, aiming to make healthcare more accessible, efficient, and responsive.
