By Adan Mohamed - Reporter
1 December 2025 - Mandera County on Monday joined the world in commemorating World AIDS Day, focusing on public awareness, community engagement, and free HIV testing services for residents and students.
Speaking during the event held at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Mandera Campus, Mandera County HIV/AIDS Coordinator Abdi Kadir Abdullahi urged community members especially the youth to take the initiative to know their HIV status.
“Everyone must take a step forward in managing and preventing the spread of HIV. I encourage all individuals to come forward and get tested,” he said.
Mr Abdikadir emphasised that HIV remains a serious health concern and called on the public to adopt preventive measures and seek early treatment when necessary.
He also highlighted key progress made in the county’s fight against HIV.
Currently, 1,322 people are living with HIV in Mandera County, with 862 of them recorded in Mandera East Sub-County.
Additionally, 862 individuals are currently on antiretroviral therapy (ART), with 20% being cross-border clients from neighboring countries.
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Mandera County’s HIV prevalence rate stands at 0.23%, while the annual incidence rate is 0.03%.
New infections have also declined significantly—from 121 cases in 2013 to just 51 cases in 2024.
Health officials reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to strengthening disease prevention and control in collaboration with the national Ministry of Health.
They noted an increase in cross-border movement in recent months and urged residents, particularly young people, to remain vigilant and keep informed about their health status.
Local area chiefs were also urged to intensify grassroots awareness campaigns to ensure continued reduction of HIV cases across the count.
World Aids day is an opportunity for public and private partners to spread awareness about the status of the pandemic and encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care around the world.
