We felt it was important to share with you some of the statistics we have found about HIV and Aids, and also the how these dangers are intensified and exacerbated by living on the streets
- Kenya has the fourth highest number of Aids infections in the world. The HIV prevalence in the country stands at 1.6 million people, according to the Ministry of Health in Kenya.
- South Africa, with a prevalence of 5.6 million leads, ahead of Nigeria (3.3 million) and India (2.4 million), according to statistics from the UNAIDS and World Health Organisation (WHO).
- An estimated 191,840 of the people living with the HIV virus in Kenya are children.
- A report, ‘The National HIV and Aids Estimates’, says there are at least 100,000 new infections in Kenya annually.
- Kenya will need about Ksh1.75 trillion by 2030 to prevent at least 1.5 million new HIV infections, the reports by the health ministry states.
- “With a budget of Ksh11.7 billion per year, Kenya would reduce the number of new infections by 66 per cent,” the report says. The study by the National Aids Control Council and the National Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Programme calls for a revolution in the HIV prevention approaches.
- The report identifies discordant couples (where one partner is infected and the other is not), sex workers, homosexuals, drug users, prison communities, uniformed forces and truck drivers, among others, as priority segments in the fight against the scourge.
Key facts according to World Health Organization (WHO)
- HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed more than 34 million lives so far. In 2014, 1.2 [980 000–1.6 million] million people died from HIV-related causes globally.
- There were approximately 36.9 [34.3–41.4] million people living with HIV at the end of 2014 with 2.0 [1.9–2.2] million people becoming newly infected with HIV in 2014 globally.
- Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected region, with 25.8 [24.0–28.7] million people living with HIV in 2014. Also sub-Saharan Africa accounts for almost 70% of the global total of new HIV infections.
- HIV infection is often diagnosed through rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), which detect the presence or absence of HIV antibodies. Most often these tests provide same day test results; essential for same day diagnosis and early treatment and care.
- There is no cure for HIV infection. However, effective antiretroviral (ARV) drugs can control the virus and help prevent transmission so that people with HIV, and those at substantial risk, can enjoy healthy and productive lives.
- It is estimated that currently only 54% of people with HIV know their status. In 2014, approximately 150 million children and adults in 129 low- and middle-income countries received HIV testing services.
- By mid-2015, 15.8 million people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) globally.
- Between 2000 and 2015, new HIV infections have fallen by 35%, AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 24% with some 7.8 million lives saved as a result of international efforts that led the global achievement of the HIV targets of the Millennium Development Goals.
- Expanding ART to all people living with HIV and expanding prevention choices can help avert 21 million AIDS-related deaths and 28 million new infections by 2030.
Factors Related to HIV and Children Living on the streets
- Sex and Exposure; due to their reproductive development and sexual orientation through peers, some adults and media, children end up practicing unprotected sexual activities thus risk being infected by the HIV virus. Some children practice unprotected sex with mentally challenged women on the streets taking advantage of their condition.
- Sharp Objects; children often engage in physical fights to solve conflicts. At times they may use sharp objects as weapons raising the risk of contracting the HIV virus.
- Drugs and Substances Abuse; when children are under the influence of drugs and substances, they indulge in unprotected sexual activities. The sharing of needles also puts children, and adults, at risk.
- Defilement; some children are forcefully sexually molested by adults that infect them with the HIV virus.
- Multiple Partners; in their social grouping, children living on the streets establish some intimate relationships among themselves. Some are intimate with several sexual partners and thus spread HIV virus amongst themselves if any are infected.
This is where we found our information:
2011: Data collection and research (focus on mobilization and street children profiling) by Save the Children UK
2011: Child Moderation training by World Vision and National Council of Children Services (NCCS)
2011: Financial Management and Project Cycle Management (PCM) by Girl Child Network (GCN)
2009: Child Rights/Need Based Programming and Inclusion in education by Girl Child Network (GCN)
2009: Conflict Management by 4Cs Kenya
2006: Theatrical Work and Community Mobilization training by TEARS Group Kenya
2005: Puppetry and participatory education theatre course by Family Programmes Promotion Services (FPPS).
September. 2003: HIV/AIDS Policy making and programming by Strengthening HIV/AIDS Project in Kenya