International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

The stigma of discussing reproductive health in Kenya needs to be eradicated in order to tackle the problem of HIV and Aids in the country.

This is according to special programmes minister Esther Murugi, who noted much of the population shuns discussing sexual health issues, Standard Digital reports.

A total of 13,000 children are born with the HIV virus in Kenya annually and Ms Murugi, who was speaking at a reproductive health workshop in Nyeri, said the problem is exacerbated by women failing to give birth in a hospital or receive necessary medication.

"Hospitals should provide treatment first before asking for money but people are still being charged before treatment,” she observed.

Ms Murugi added around six million people in Kenya have been tested for the disease, with 1.6 per cent found to be positive.

Those who have not yet been tested should do so as soon as possible so treatment can get underway if needed, she advised.

Mothers with HIV may not necessarily pass the disease on to their babies and recent research from the University of California indicated an ingredient in human milk could safeguard newborns from the virus.

Posted by Martine Ward