Cosmas Butunyi
13 May 2008
Nairobi — About 40 Kisumu municipal council workers die of Aids every year, according to a new study.
The survey, conducted by Prof Dan Kaseje and Dr Stephen Okeyo of the Great Lakes University of Kisumu, put the Aids prevalence rate for the municipality at 15 per cent, more than double the national figure of 6.7 per cent.
"This has had an adverse impact on the economic and technical operations of the local authority, staff social welfare, as well as livelihoods and social interactions of residents," Dr Okeyo told an international scientific conference in Kisumu recently.
He said apart from losing skilled staff, estimated at four per month, the council had also to bear medical bills.
Poor health of staff and absenteeism due to the illness were the cause low productivity and poor services.
These, in turn, resulted in poor returns for the local authority.
Town clerk Rashid Mwakiwiwi confirmed that the disease was indeed a problem to the council.
The research found that lack of an HIV and Aids workplace policy and strategic plan, poor governance and corruption contributed to the high prevalence rate.
"Routine HIV testing is not done, and hence it is purely a matter of perceptions and subjectivity," Dr Okeyo said.
Not lost
Other factors said to contribute to the frequent occurrence of the disease were poverty and inadequate resources.
Others are adoption of alien lifestyles, socio-cultural practices, stigma and discrimination.
"There is inadequate information on the specific impact of HIV/Aids in Kisumu municipality," it adds.
Dr Okeyo, however, says that all hope is not lost.
"There is adequate infrastructure and commitment platform on which to build effective HIV and Aids interventions," said the lecturer.
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