Aids clinic opens in populous Mathare slum
It’s a breath of fresh air for over 2,000 HIV patients in Mathare slums and adjacent settlements after the opening of a refurbished clinic.
The Aids Healthcare Foundation’s (AHF) clinic in Mathare will serve as a crucial hub for rapid testing, and a home for people to ensure prompt knowledge of one’s HIV status. It will also provide a comprehensive treatment and support services to HIV patients.
Speaking during the re-opening of the clinic, Medical Services Principal Secretary, Harry Kimtai said the government has established a legal framework to support investment in healthcare from donors and the private sector.
“We will put HIV patients on the UHC card, to ensure that they access treatment even as donors leave,” the PS said.
He also acknowledged AHF’s partnership efforts with the Ministry of Health, praising the collaborative spirit in addressing challenges posed by the virus.
“I express gratitude for the collaborative spirit shown by AHF and other like-minded organizations in addressing challenges posed by the virus. Our commitment to combating HIV remains resolute,” he said, as AHF also marked 15 years of operations in Kenya, providing HIV prevention and care services, including antiretroviral treatment, to over 100,000 Kenyans.
In support of AHF’s goal to contribute to the elimination of HIV as a public health threat in the country by 2030, the PS commended the NGO for distributing over 52 million condoms and conducting 3.8 million tests between 2010 and 2023. These efforts, he said, reminds us of the needed commitment to making a lasting impact on communities.
The organisation has invested over Sh7 billion in healthcare in the last nine years since it opened it’s doors in Kenya.
AHF’s 15th anniversary celebration comes just weeks after the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) revealed that Kenya currently bears the 7th highest HIV burden globally.
