The State Department for Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga has called on county governments to embed HIV prevention strategies within their healthcare services, citing the urgent need to reduce rising infection rates among young people.

Speaking during an event on June 17, 2025, Dr. Oluga expressed concern over the increasing number of new infections among adolescents and young adults.

“We have issues of prevention that we want counties to now start integrating into their healthcare services,” said Dr. Oluga.

He highlighted that nearly 6,000 new HIV infections were recorded among individuals aged 15 to 24, describing the trend as deeply troubling.

Dr. Oluga emphasized that the Ministry of Health has established a coordinated prevention mechanism at the county level, involving surveillance officers and community health promoters.

“We are working to consolidate efforts and ensure our interventions are both sustainable and resilient going forward,” he noted.

He attributed the high infection rate among teens to gaps in both education and enforcement, underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies to protect vulnerable age groups.

The Principal Secretary made the remarks while officiating the opening of the Joint Annual Program Review Workshop on the Syndemic Strategic Framework, convened by the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) on Tuesday June 17, 2025, in Naivasha.

He noted that recent shifts in the health sector’s funding landscape have required a reorganization of financing for syndemic diseases such as HIV, TB, and malaria.

“This workshop provides an opportunity to assess county-level progress, but more importantly, to shape how we move forward in responding to syndemic diseases and implementing Universal Health Coverage,” Dr. Oluga said.