LETTERS: Offer solutions, not fear, in war on Aids

Mohammed Ali stated that nations fight to change maps but policy fights maps change. Several strides have been realised in containing the HIV/Aids spread since 1984 when the first case was reported in Kenya. Notably, awareness creation.

The country is no longer ignorant of the disease’s existence, spread, control and avoidance.

Furthermore, ARVs coverage has reached over a million persons while prevention of mother to child transmission (PMCT) has increased greatly.

However, gains registered over the years are gradually emptied by stigma associated with the epidemic.

Although a few have beat the stigma tag, many others are living in denial. Ignorant to this fact, organisations and volunteers fronting the anti-HIV campaign are not only ordinary in their approach but lack applicable skills in handling such a delicate topic.

Am not sure, whether programming and policies towards HIV prevalence are designed to propagate fear or inform action and provide solutions since negative perception approach is a toxic pill that only generates punctured efforts.

First, sexual intimacy is a choice. It is the recklessness by which sexual conduct and choices are made that exposes one to associated risks.

Again, the presence of friendlier options like PrEPs, PEPS and condom use excites irresponsible conduct among the sexually active. Behaviour change and sound choices are essential in reversing risky engagements.

According to the HIV and Aids Prevention and Control Act (HAPCA) 2009, HIV testing is voluntary.

The act further guarantees patients privacy and confidentiality besides shielding those infected from discrimination. While on it, strategy proposals like the partner management system (PMS) lack clarity on their execution under the so called network without violating constitutional provisions.

Besides, this approach might spark enlargement of the network webs if immaturely unmasked. Spiraling prevalence across age brackets is a consequence of untested policy approaches. Blind group messaging and targeting only facilitates prevalence shifts to another groupings perceived to be safer.

Public perception is key when it comes to social engagements, if and when originated, assessment on their impact should be done to avert boomerangs.

Incidentally, matters sexuality are complex and hard to mechanise. The only way out of the shifting quagmire is to strategise on less risky choices by formulation of strategies that offer solutions and not propagating fear.

Fear of contracting HIV is not solid. Perhaps the reason why uptake of morning-after pills is high among women in their prime as compared to condoms use. This is an illustration that fear of getting pregnant is higher compared to contracting STIs. Again, the widely held view that infected persons can only be skinny with failing health is unfortunate.

Hence the need to further dig into related topical subjects with similar vigour adopted to the sexuality topic. Additionally, let’s tackle grey areas that offer refuge to the cynics.

Among them is the discordancy question, doctor/patient confidentiality, church confessions and miracle cures etc.

Finally, adopted strategies should cultivate a candid and assertive conversation with men and bring them on board so that they can willingly volunteer for testing to complement their partners’ efforts.

Kiragu Kariuki is a public policy and administration expert.