Kenya has launched an ambitious strategy to fight HIV/AIDS that aims to reduce new infections by at least 50 percent over the next four years and focus more on most at-risk populations (MARPs).

 The third Kenya National AIDS Strategic Plan, which runs from 2009/2010 till 2012/2013 and was launched in the capital, Nairobi, on 12 January, also aims to reduce AIDS-related mortality by 25 percent.

 “We cannot achieve our target unless we close new taps of HIV infections – this involves putting most at-risk populations at the centre of our HIV programmes and prevention strategies,” said Alloys Orago, director of the National AIDS Control Council.

Read more – http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=87721

IRIN – Unconventional health workers and new technologies will be a vital part of the ongoing effort to “virtually eliminate” mother-to-child transmission of HIV, says Michél Sidibé, executive director of UNAIDS.

“We cannot wait for the highest cadre of health professionals to be trained before expanding our capacity to prevent mother-to-child transmission,” he told a press conference in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. “We have to tap into non-conventional capacity to help expand access to health services.”

Read more – http://www.plusnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=87694

UNAIDS – To mark World AIDS Day, UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé joined President Jacob Zuma and South Africans in their national commemoration in Pretoria where he called for the forging of a mass prevention movement.

Mr Sidibé was in the company of the President of the Republic of South Africa Mr Jacob Zuma and Minster of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi at the Tshwane Events Centre in Pretoria for an event attended by thousands of participants. At the event, President Zuma made a commitment to take an HIV test, personifying the theme of the South African celebrations–I am Responsible. 

Read more – http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/FeatureStories/archive/2009/20091201_WAD_MS.asp