HIV at 40: Free Medicine Out of Reach for Many in Lamu County.
As Kenya marks 40 years in its fight against HIV, a paradox in Lamu County highlights a silent crisis. Despite the government providing free HIV medication, residents face immense challenges accessing these life-saving drugs due to dwindling community support and logistical hurdles.
The Cost of Free Medicine
In Lamu, what should be a simple process of accessing free HIV medication becomes an expensive struggle. With no donor organizations or robust community outreach programs, many patients are defaulting on treatment. One resident shared her plight, revealing she had missed two months of medication. Though fully aware of the risks, she lamented the lack of support, recalling a time when help was readily available.
“My name is D.K. I have lived with HIV for 29 years, as has my wife. Thankfully, our five children are HIV-negative. Previously, organizations like WKIP supported us through training and peer champions who conducted defaulter tracing,” he said. “Now, with no donor support, many of these champions have also defaulted, unable to sustain their work without resources.”
Funding Challenges in Lamu
Lamu’s struggle is deeply rooted in its financial limitations. The county receives the lowest budget allocation from the national government due to its population of 150,000. This translates to minimal funding for community-based interventions like screening, testing, and preventive programs.
“Lamu is a hard-hit area when it comes to financing HIV programs,” noted a healthcare worker. “The little funding we get focuses on facility-based interventions, leaving community outreach severely underfunded. Stigma makes people hesitant to seek care at health facilities, so community programs are crucial.”
A Widening Gap in Support
With the end of Global Fund support in June this year, the county has been left to rely solely on its limited resources. This has further widened the gap in care. Many residents are unaware of preventive measures like Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), while default rates for both HIV and related conditions like tuberculosis are rising.
One local health advocate explained that the county’s low HIV prevalence rate of 2.2% has led to reduced national intervention. However, this figure has risen from 1.5% in just two years, signaling a growing problem. “We attribute this increase to new infections and the lack of awareness and community-based programs,” they said.
The Human Toll
While policymakers debate statistics, the people of Lamu live the harsh realities of these funding gaps. A healthcare worker recounted a heartbreaking loss: “Last month, we lost a child due to a lack of support. Without funding, we couldn’t do more to help.”
ALSO READ: HIV at 40: Kenya’s Four-Decade Fight Against the Epidemic.
Despite these challenges, Lamu County continues to fight with ingenuity, compassion, and resilience. Its battle against HIV is not just about medicine but about ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey toward hope and survival.
HIV at 40: Free Medicine Out of Reach for Many in Lamu County.
