the Star, 22 August 2014

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has called for more concerted efforts among all stakeholders to contain the high HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Samburu County. She said it was unacceptable for a County of 254,997 people to register 461 new HIV infections every year.

The First Lady spoke when she handed over the third fully kitted 'Beyond Zero' mobile clinic to Samburu County at Kenyatta stadium in Maralal town.

She said, "Statistics show that as at the end of 2013 there were a total of 6,883 people living with HIV in Samburu County of which 13% were children. The report show women bear the brunt of the HIV/Aids scourge as the prevalence rates among them stood at 7.1% compared to that of men which was 4.3%."

The First Lady said the unique geographical location of the County and its socio-economic and cultural dynamics has immensely contributed to the vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among the inhabitants.

She added that while Samburu County's rich cultural heritage proved to be an asset in promoting tourism activities in the country, several social-economic attributes compromise their resilience and need be addressed.

The First Lady urged the county leadership to take fully advantage of the new fully-kitted mobile clinic facility to scale up maternal and child health care.

"I am informed that the Samburu County Government has already developed a calendar of mobile clinic operationalization based on need, equity and emergency situations among other considerations," she added.

On food security, the First Lady commended Samburu County leadership and its people for adopting new economic activities that include crop production to address the perennial food shortages and dependency on donations.

She said there was potential for agriculture in Samburu with some 30,000 acres of land in Poros, Malaso and Lpartuk, among others suitable for food production.

"I am happy that the Samburu government is sensitizing the local farmers to embrace mixed farming to fully exploit the potential offered in production of cereals," she added.

Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal assured the First Lady that his government will augment the Beyond Zero initiative by purchasing one mobile clinic per constituency.

"Depending on availability of funds, my government will also purchase mobile clinics for every ward in future," Lenolkulal said.

BY PSCU

Source: the Star