Kenya: Sonko gets US $ 5 million from Elton John Foundation for HIV



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London – Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has secured funding from a donor of 500 million Shillings in London to help him fight HIV and AIDS.

Funds from the Elton John Foundation will be primarily spent on providing self test kits as part of a program to end the new HIV infection by 2030.

"I am delighted with the new initiative of the Elton John Foundation, which will greatly strengthen our efforts in the fight against the plague declared by the government as a national disaster," said Sonko.

Speaking in London at the World AIDS Cities Forum, Sonko said his administration was committed to eliminating the spread of the disease.

During the World Forum, the Nairobi County Government also joined two other cities, London and Atlanta, to sign a pledge to accelerate the 2014 Paris Declaration to end new HIV infections in Africa. 39, here 2030.

"There is a political will coupled with a good budget allocation to curb the spread of HIV / AIDS in the city of Nairobi," said Sonko.

He added that his administration had increased the number of comprehensive care centers (CCCs) from 169 to 203 and the elimination of mother-to-child transmission sites (EMTCTs) from 180 to 302 in order to stop the spread of disease.

The governor also added that in Nairobi, patients on free antiretroviral therapy rose from 80% to 91% and the number of people screened for HIV from more than one million to more than one. million.

"In terms of how we did it, at the leadership level, we ensured that the necessary political will was brought in. We provided strong leadership and a specific commitment to increase HIV budget allocation: HIV Court to demonstrate our commitment to achieving our goals for 2020 and ending AIDS by 2030, "said Sonko.

The governor of Nairobi stated that, as a government and with the support of development partners, he had developed the Nairobi City Strategic Plan on HIV / AIDS, in line with the Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework, one year after the signing of the Paris Declaration.

"We have also developed a medium-term expenditure framework for HIV from 2018 to 2021," Sonko said in a speech to delegates attending the conference.

Sonko said they also had strong partnership and coordination among stakeholders to strengthen private sector involvement in HIV issues.

"We have also set up a multi-sectoral committee on HIV in cities that meets quarterly to review reports from technical working committees dealing with issues," said Sonko.

Representatives from the United Kingdom and the United States, led by Ann Aslett of the Elton John Foundation, Robb Pitts, Folton of Commissioners County Chair and other delegates, attended the meeting.

In her speech, Aslett remained optimistic that Kenya would be able to achieve the 2014 Paris Declaration on zero HIV infection by 2030.

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