AIDS and HIV infection is a major cause of worry in Kenya. The country has experienced a rapid rise is AIDS affectation in the past, but now stringent measures are slowly bringing down the number of patients.
AIDS in Kenya has increased rapidly since the 1980's. By the end of 2001, the total number of people living with HIV/AIDS infection was estimated at about 15% of the total population. Since AIDS is a disease with no known cure till date, it posed a very potent problem for Kenyans. Massive number of AIDS deaths also caused a marked decrease in life expectancy rates. AIDS had reached epidemic status.
The government and USAID came forward with the goal of reducing HIV/AIDS infection rates. The method was to increase awareness, to prevent the occurrence of causative factors, and aggressive treatment. In 2003, American president George Bush announced the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a five-year undertaking to bring the AIDS rates in Kenya.
Since then, AIDS rates have declined steadily. Increased awareness about the causative factors, the seriousness of the disease, and measures of preventing it have been instrumental in bringing about this positive change. Researchers are flocking to Kenya to aid the country in battling this disease. Positive changes in sexual habits are being noted everywhere, slowing the fatal progress of AIDS.
Aggressive campaigns are now underfoot, funded mainly by the US. According to latest statistics, the AIDS rates in Kenya have fallen from 6.1 per cent (2004) to 5.9 per cent (2005). Kenya is aiming to reduce the percentage to 5.5 within 2010.
