The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa officially launched the World AIDS Day 2024 Half Marathon in Nairobi.
This event aims to raise awareness and unite communities in the urgent fight against HIV/AIDS, reinforcing the global objective to end AIDS by 2030.
National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) CEO Ruth Masha says the race provides a great platform to heighten the war against HIV and AIDS especially among men and boys.
“One of the things that unite this country is sports and every time there is a race anywhere in the world, we always come together in unity…and what we are calling for this time round is unity of purpose. For us to unify, we want to run because this is what we know best. This (athletics) is what we are known for as a country so we are using our heritage as a platform to educate people but also to have fun,” Masha said.
Dr. Barasa highlighted the significant strides Kenya has made in recent years, including an 83% reduction in new HIV infections—from 101,560 in 2013 to 16,752 in 2023.
The number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy has nearly doubled to 1,336,681, while AIDS-related deaths have dropped by 65% over the same period.
However, challenges persist, particularly in addressing the needs of children, adolescents, and young men who face a triple threat of HIV, early pregnancies, and gender-based violence.
The marathon will specifically focus on promoting the health and well-being of men and boys living with HIV.
It aims to advocate for early diagnosis and treatment to reduce AIDS-related deaths in this demographic, which currently numbers approximately 487,710 individuals.
