Kenya has launched a new technology to enable it track progress and identify gaps in HIV programming in the country.
Dubbed the Kenya HIV Situation Room, the technology is set to enable quick feedback on results at both the county and community levels and identify any bottlenecks and access issues.
The technology is also expected to speed up and streamline communications between policy-makers and implementers.
Speaking at the launch of the innovative tool, President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta expressed satisfaction at his government’s ability to get the technology fully enrolled. Adding that the move has been influenced by the policy of the government to “make the use of ICT a priority.”
The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé who jointly launched the program with President Kenyatta was also hopeful of its sustainability by President Kenyatta’s government.
He added that the technology “can serve in a similar manner to track progress against other diseases, such as tuberculosis and malaria.”
Latest data from the Kenya HIV Situation Room shows that Kenya is close to having 800 000 people on treatment.
The Kenya HIV Situation Room will enable AIDS programme staff to localize where efforts need to be intensified. This more accurate programming will help to ensure that mothers have access to HIV testing early on in their pregnancy, that children living with HIV have regular access to care and treatment and that antiretroviral medicines are replenished quickly should stock-outs occur.
The Government of Kenya and UNAIDS have worked together to bring four different data sets into one tool: data from the District Health Information System; information from the Kenya Medical Supply Agency; Kenya’s HIV estimates; and data from the National AIDS Control Council on programme implementers and service delivery.
The Kenya HIV Situation Room, developed by the National AIDS Control Council and the Kenyan Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNAIDS, is supported by the Government of Japan, which contributed resources as part of its continued support to improving monitoring and evaluation of the global AIDS epidemic.
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Source: GNA