3 January 2008
Nairobi — HIV infection is likely to increase following an upsurge of gang-rapes during the ongoing post-election violence, a government agency has warned.
National Aids Control Council chairperson Miriam Were yesterday said gains made by Kenya in the war against Aids are likely to be reversed by the orgy of violence going on in parts of the country.
On Tuesday, 19 women and girls were admitted to Nairobi Women's Hospital after they were gang-raped in various city estates. Men and boys who were sexually assaulted were also admitted to hospital.
Anti-retroviral drugs
Experts have praised Kenya for implementing a successful multi-sectoral response to HIV and Aids, which has reduced the national HIV prevalence rate to 5.1 per cent from 6.1 per cent.
At the same time, new HIV infections have dropped to 55,000 from the previous 120,000 annually.
On Wednesday, Prof Were urged victims of rape and sodomy to ensure they received anti-retroviral drugs in the nearest public health facility within 24 hours and not later than 72 hours.
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