September 28, 2002
The Government yesterday strongly warned Community-based and other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) against misusing funds meant for fighting HIV/Aids. Nyeri District Commissioner (DC), Mr David Jakaiti declared that the Government will not entertain any diversion of funds meant to undertake HIV/Aids projects. Jakaiti announced that any organisation implicated in misuse of funds will have their allocation cancelled.
"Misappropriation of these funds will be taken seriously and drastic measures taken in case any is detected in the course of your project," said the DC. While disbursing two cheques worth Sh25,600 to Ihururu Initiative and Githi Location Aids campaigners, Jakaiti reminded the recepients that the money was from tax-payers and should be used to benefit Kenyans but not personal projects.
Meanwhile, two hospitals have launched a programme aimed at reducing infant mortality through Aids as well as prolonging the lives of HIV-positive mothers. Under the programme, expectant mothers who are HIV positive now stand a chance of giving birth to babies who are negative and see them grow while the women receive anti-retroviral treatment free of charge.
Elsewhere, Aids cases are escalating due to the influence of long distance drivers in Voi Division of Taita Taveta District. The district Medical Officer of Health (MOH), Dr Shem Patta, said bed occupancy by Aids sufferers in Moi Hospital, Voi, has hit 60 per cent. In an interview in Mombasa yesterday, Patta said the percentage is lower at 40 per cent bed occupancy at Wusi Hospital in Wundanyi. Certain trading centres in the area have as high as 80 per cent HIV-positive populations, he said.
At the same time, grassroots campaign against the HIV/Aids scourge in Kwale District has proved a big success, local District Commissioner (DC) Stephen Kipkebut has said. He said since Community-Based Organisations (CBO) were mobilised to fight Aids in the year 2000, the prevalence rate in the district has been brought down from 25 per cent to 13 per cent this year.
And the Kenya National Library Services (KNLS) has embarked on a programme aimed at creating special desks in all the 33 public libraries to be used by people interested in learning about HIV/Aids. The Director of KNLS, Mr Tom Sitima, said yesterday that desks will also be set up for visually-impaired people in the libraries.
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