By MN Reporter

Lack of private Voluntary, Counseling and Testing centers in heavily populated Rongo town risks erasing gains made on fight against HIV and Aids.

Medics in Rongo Sub County said the fear of a possible increase of HIV infection in the area following inadequate voluntary counseling and testing centres real.

They said most locals prefer private, NGO or community based VCTs to government ran ones, saying most positive people are now seeking services like counseling and ARVs in towns like Migori, Homa Bay and Kisii towns.

Doctor Philip Otieno ,an expert in HIV testing and counseling said Rongo town for example has only one community owned facility known as PONA.
He said high population and low funds has affected service delivery at the center.

“Population in Rongo town is growing very fast and so there is dire need for private facilities to offer VCT services . Lack of enough facilities is likely to give room for news HIV infections in the fast growing town,” he said.

Otieno said the HIV rate in Migori County in general has been on the rise because of lack of facilities which can offer quick testing and cancelling services to the people adding that majority fear government facilities over the laxity.