Standalone HIV care centres set to be phased out in Kisumu

CECM Gregory Ganda during the interview. Photo/LM

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By Florence Omolloh

The County government of Kisumu is phasing out standalone HIV Comprehensive Care Centres (CCCs).

According to a directive signed by Dr Joshua Ojwang’ Lusi, Kisumu County’s Chief Officer for Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation, the move seeks to strengthen health services delivery and ensure sustainability of HIV services.

“All level 2 (dispensaries) and level 3 (health centres) in Kisumu County are hereby directed to integrate HIV services with routine healthcare services,” said the Chief Officer.

The abrupt move, Dr. Gregory Ganda, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Medical Services admitted that it was necessitated by United State of America President Donald Trump’s order to pause foreign development assistance for 90 days across the globe, ‘not aligned to American interests.’

“The order disrupts a five-year transition, affecting 115,000 HIV clients served by 153 facilities, with 560 staff members dependent on US funding. The county faces a budget gap, unable to absorb the $500,000, an equivalent of Sh64.5 million needed annually for these staff,” said Ganda.

Ganda stated that the county government is actively addressing the implication of Trump’s stop order, which he concedes may not be an easy task.

‘’As you know, Kisumu has the second highest prevalence of HIV in this country around 14% and that means that we have a huge number of clients. We have 115,000 clients across the county, who are being taken care of in 153 facilities,” he added.

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Eric Okioma during the interview. Photo/LM

Mr. Eric Okioma, the team leader Nelson Mandela TB and HIV information centre located in Nyalenda, on his part stated that the new order will greatly affect HIV patients, warning that the number of deaths may go up.

Okioma has lived with HIV for over 20 years.  

“With the new order from Trump, a lot of lives are going to be lost due to provision of insufficient medicine, and medication is going to be expensive. As a county unless we have a strategy we are not in a safe space,” he shared during an interview.

He urged facilities to ensure that medication is distributed evenly without bias.