Stakeholders asked to end stigma while managing HIV,TB in Kuria Sub County

February 17, 2018 - County, News - Tagged: , , , , - no comments

By MN Reporter

Managing stigma on HIV/AIDS in Migori County’s Kuria region has been difficult and this has been due to low awareness campaigns, Migori News has learnt.

While Speaking during Migori County dialogue forum on HIV, TB, Sexual Reproductive and Human Rights at CDF hall Kuria West Sub-County, Lucy Ghati, the Programme Director for Kenya Legal Issues Network (KELIN) said Kuria community lags behind in managing HIV/AIDS stigma and related diseases compared to other neighbouring Sub Counties.

According to Ghati, many organisations had given preference to FGM related issues completely the two ailments.

“We have not had more awareness creation (on HIV/TB) in the part of Kuria as such,”Ghati said.

She called on government and non-governmental organizations to step up campaign against stigma in HIV and TB patients in the region.

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The KELIN director further expressed deep concern over continued violation of human rights among Kuria Women and girls.

 “Violation of women and girls health rights Kuria community is rife and this has come to an end with the help of all relevant stakeholders,” she said.

This violation led to the coming of a group of women who sell vegetable in different markets in Kuria initiate a campaign against the violation.

Mary Omae of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake in the Kuria region said there are many unresolved cases on rape and defilement while some went unreported.

Omae attributed this to ignorance and frustrations as they tried to follow up cases the cases.

“Efforts to bring the perpetrators to face the law have been futile as the society shields men from the blame,” she said.

Another human rights activist and a paralegal officer Maria Boke Chacha also present in the meeting said that the human rights activists in Kuria community have fought endless journeys in to protect the rights of the women and girls in the society.

The two said sustaining the battle on various human rights violations was becoming difficult as they relied on meager incomes from their small scale vegetable businesses.