By Lydia Winda

The inaugural World AIDS Day was marked on December 1, 1988, by the World Health Organization to unite everyone around the world to join the fight against HIV & AIDS, create awareness about it, and show solidarity with those infected and affected. They further came up with the red ribbon, which became a global symbol for showing solidarity with the infected & affected, and for creating awareness.

In Kenya, HIV was declared a national disaster in 1999. This was effected due to the severe threat the epidemic posed to the nation's social and economic development. Since then, institutions like, National STIs/STDs Control Program (NASCOP) and the National AIDS Control Council (NACC) were established. The government, in collaboration with other partners, has taken the lead in HIV & AIDS prevention and treatment.

Moreover, in Kenya, currently, people living with HIV (PLHIV) are 1,326,419, and the prevalence of HIV is 3.03% as of 2025. New HIV infections are 20,105 annually, with new male infections at 6,869 and new female infections at 13,236, a majority being adolescents and the youth aged between 15-24, which shows an overall decline in the spread of the virus (NSDCC, 2025).

The reduction in funding for HIV might undo decades of advancements. Community-led programs, which are essential for reaching vulnerable groups, are not being prioritized, and HIV services are being disrupted, particularly in fragile and crisis circumstances. To paint a picture of what this looks like, when was the last time you saw an advertisement about HIV & AIDS in Kenya on mainstream media, billboard, or social media? How often do you find free condoms in public toilets compared to five or so years ago? When was the last time you saw tents on the streets of Nairobi or other towns mobilizing people to get tested for HIV?

The only hope is in people taking individual responsibility to end the virus. The good news is that there are several advancements, like Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PreP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), which are preventive measures put in place to help curb the spread of the virus.

The Counseling Department takes cognizance of the risks HIV poses to the USIU-Africa community, given that the average age of the students belongs to the most vulnerable age group (15-24). The Department is committed to offering both preventive and curative measures to help avert the spread of the virus and to ensure that those who are infected have access to proper care and treatment. Some of the services they have in place include: free HIV testing services at the Counseling Center; psycho-education during freshmen orientation, in SUS & SENNEX classes, and during Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Weeks, which are held twice a year; developing and circulating Information Education Materials (IECs) to educate the university community; and working with partners to offer care and treatment.

To observe this year’s World AIDS Day, themed “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” the Counseling Department held a VCT Week, during which a good number of students, staff, and faculty were tested, and some were given self-test kits to use at home. To those who have not tested this year, visit the Counseling Center or a nearby VCT center to get tested.

It is important to recognize that HIV is still here lest we bury our heads in the sand. With reduced funding, the greatest hope is behavior change and responsible sexual behavior. Consider the ABCs of HIV prevention, which are: A for abstinence; B for being faithful to one uninfected partner after checking and confirming that you are both negative, and C for correct and consistent condom use. Remember, the negative partner in a discordant couple (where one partner is HIV negative and the other partner is HIV positive) relationship can maintain their negativity for as long as they remain safe.

Your health is your wealth, and ignorance is not bliss. Go get tested and take charge of your life.

Together, we can fight HIV & AIDS!