People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya Call for Political Recognition
By Otieno Owino
Leaders of people living with HIV/Aids in Kenya have launched a document that seeks to secure the commitment of presidential aspirants and key political leaders to take an active role in AIDS response. The document was launched Friday October 19, 2012 at a media breakfast meeting at Silver Springs Hotel, Nairobi.
The launch of ‘Kenya People Living with HIV Manifesto’ was conducted by the National Empowerment Network of people living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NEPHAK). The manifesto stipulates the needs and demands of PLHIV which should be taken into consideration to secure meaningful engagement of people living with AIDS in national development especially in leadership and governance.
“This is a political document. It aims to provide a common platform of response putting people living with HIV/AIDS at the centre and will offer a framework for negotiation with government especially on greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS in leadership and government,” said Lucy Ghati a programme officer at NEPHAK.
The leaders have the support of the National Aids Control Council (NACC) with its representative Dr. Bathsheba Osoro affirming that the initiative is important for promoting rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. She noted that the manifesto will go a long way in reducing stigma and discrimination.
“The parliamentarians, political parties have the duty of legislating on matters that will improve the welfare of people living with HIV/AIDS. They should clearly indicate in their manifestos strategies and measures that will allow for greater participation by people living with HIV/AIDS as candidates during the general election. ” said Ms Dorothy Onyango the executive director for Women Fighting AIDS in Kenya (WOFAK) who was the chief guest at the event.
As part of it strategy, NEPHAK wants political parties to factor in issues of HIV/AIDS into their political manifesto and want the government of Kenya to increase its efforts in AIDS response in Kenya.
The key areas in which the document seeks the commitment of political players include: Testing to all sexually active adults, elimination of newborn HIV, access to HIV treatment to HIV positive Kenyans, putting efforts to curb stigma and discrimination and involvement in law and governance.
NEPHAK intends to put together a team of leaders that shall monitor, track, rank and compile a report on political parties’ mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS issues in party manifestos with A National Red Ribbon Award in the offing for the political party and presidential candidates most articulate about HIV/AIDs in their campaigns.
Dorothy Onyango, herself an aspirant for a parliamentary seat said that the manifesto is “a huge milestone as we rethink our path towards turning the tide towards an AIDS-free Kenya, for it documents voices of various stakeholders and lay down clear plans and means to achieve them through combination HIV prevention.”