RISK FACTORS AND SOCIETAL RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS IN KENYA.
The spread of HIV/AIDS depends on every weakness that the society exposes. In most cases its high spread is rampant where there is high levels of poverty, illiteracy, lack of public awareness about one’s health. In cases where there is widespread use of alcohol and drugs and corruption becomes part of daily life. Meaning it hinders the possibility of adequate response by the government then these reasons make it that HIV/AIDS is not simply a medical disease but also a social one. Hence they fuel the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS which are now devastating to the individual and the society.
When we come to leisure activities, we have evening entertainment, relaxation, and community activities. What is different today is the amount, variety, and toxicity of drugs available. The abuse of hard core drugs like bhang, heroine cocaine and narcotics is growing, and the number of people using them throughout the day is also growing. Their use has already resulted in an HIV crises in Kenyan society and worldwide amongst school and college students in all major cities country wide.
This growing threat of drugs is a nightmare for the nation and needs a major intervention program. Failure to which together with HIV it will be devastating to the society. The authorities are aware of the severity of the problem, however, lack of political will and corruption is preventing adequate response to the widespread. The donors and NGOs are afraid of investing in the county to give aid to the victims. This is because of the political instability the country is experiencing. The authorities also are not prioritizing the fight against the abuse of drugs which in turn leads to reckless activities that may lead to spread of the deadly disease.
For the rich classes, evening entertainment is accompanied with hours of intensive drinking. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that younger and younger children are imitating their parents and elders, and for them risky behavior includes alcohol, drugs, and sex. The three have a correlation in that they go hand in hand and are inseparable. These children are often left without responsible supervision and with excess funds for days and while the parents are on business trips. Sexual experimentation, with HIV ever waiting, is proving deadly for many. Alcohol use amongst the poor also has gone a notch higher. With all that in mind the government, takes no action as they wait to welcome the increase in taxes collected. Oblivious of the long term cost to the society and the nation at large.
The increasing use of television, alcohol, and gambling as the most outlets for stress and tensions relieve, is a devastating social behavior with well-known consequences. For example, it has become a cause of risky sexual behavior among the revelers. Kenyan Government should come up with alternatives mechanisms to counter this kind of lifestyle, create awareness on why the constructive use of leisure time is a necessary. Some of the useful use of leisure time include voluntary community improvement programs, spending more time with children, reading, sports and other outdoor activities. Facilitating such a change in lifestyle is essential considering that a significant number of a society has already become addicted to television and alcohol. The problem of drug addiction, however, will only become worse if people do not develop such life-skills.
Studies done show that sexual experimentation and development of risky sexual behavior is occurring in mid-to-late teens. The most vulnerable time being the transition from school to college, especially amongst boys and girls from rural backgrounds going to colleges in cities. Consequently, awareness and intervention programs have to begin in schools and before risky behaviors become addictive habits. Schools are very open to providing awareness, but are relying on external speakers since their staff is reluctant to speak on relevant issues of sexuality and sex.
Societal response to build the capacity to spread awareness, to provide HIV testing, pre- and post-test counseling, and to improve the monitoring of blood in blood banks, is slowly beginning to pay off but government needs to invest more in these programs.
There are many organizations working hard to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and raise social awareness in our country. However, it would be weak to assume that the government has finally developed the infrastructures to deal with the crisis all on its own without society’s support and other organizations. The efforts of organizations dedicated to HIV intervention, like JIJUE JIPANGE, KANCO initiatives, need to grow and get the necessary support.
The task of dealing with societal issues and the consequent risk for HIV/AIDS is overwhelming. Today, adequate intervention requires mobilization of a significant part of society. Many more caring people must join the fight and be empowered by a much larger budget, both from the government and from private individuals and corporations. With current levels of effort, the HIV infections will still continue to grow but at a slow rate since a bigger population is aware. Therefore more support and unit between government and other HIV/AIDS initiatives is needed to create more awareness and hence reduce the rate of spread in our society.
Prepared by: Deborah Ngila.
Comments
Post a Comment