NAIROBI, Kenya – Up to a third of all newly diagnosed HIV patients in Kenya are already in the advanced stages of the disease, putting them at extreme risk of life-threatening infections and death, according to health officials.
This alarming trend has sparked renewed concerns about delayed treatment and testing, particularly among men, whose reluctance to seek medical care early is exacerbating the situation.
Dr. Lazarus Momanyi, a technical assistant at the National Aids and STIs Control Programme (Nascop), highlighted the grim reality: “People living with advanced HIV disease (AHD) often present themselves to care when they have very low CD4 cell counts and are at a higher risk of disease progression, development of opportunistic infections, and death.”
Advanced HIV is characterized by a CD4 cell count below 200 cells/mm³ or the presence of severe clinical symptoms, classified as WHO stage 3 or 4 events, signaling the onset of AIDS.
The most common causes of severe illness and death for people with AHD include tuberculosis, severe bacterial infections, and cryptococcal meningitis.
Many patients arriving at healthcare facilities with AHD are either newly diagnosed, have interrupted their treatment, or are facing treatment failure.
For men, who are often less proactive about routine health checkups, late diagnoses are common, worsening their health outcomes.
Nelson Otwoma, Chairperson of the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/Aids in Kenya (Nephak), warned that Kenya is losing ground in its fight against HIV-related deaths.
“HIV-related deaths are making a comeback because people are delaying testing or doing it when it’s too late, especially men. We need to address the barriers preventing men from accessing care early,” he said.
In response, the government has designated at least 140 health facilities across the country to handle the growing number of AHD cases.
These hospitals are equipped with comprehensive care packages, trained medical personnel, and advanced laboratory diagnostics to manage critically ill patients.
To improve outcomes for people with advanced HIV, Kenya is developing an AHD implementation plan.
The initiative, still in draft form, will guide healthcare workers in the screening, treatment, and prevention of opportunistic infections, and ensure that patients are promptly linked to other vital health services.
The World Health Organization recommends a robust package of interventions for AHD, including screening for opportunistic infections, rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and intensified adherence support.
Dr. Momanyi emphasized the urgent need to optimize early detection, calling for the widespread use of CD4 tests to identify advanced cases.
This alarming trend has sparked renewed concerns about delayed treatment and testing, particularly among men, whose reluctance to seek medical care early is exacerbating the situation.
Dr. Lazarus Momanyi, a technical assistant at the National Aids and STIs Control Programme (Nascop), highlighted the grim reality: “People living with advanced HIV disease (AHD) often present themselves to care when they have very low CD4 cell counts and are at a higher risk of disease progression, development of opportunistic infections, and death.”
Advanced HIV is characterized by a CD4 cell count below 200 cells/mm³ or the presence of severe clinical symptoms, classified as WHO stage 3 or 4 events, signaling the onset of AIDS.
The most common causes of severe illness and death for people with AHD include tuberculosis, severe bacterial infections, and cryptococcal meningitis.
Many patients arriving at healthcare facilities with AHD are either newly diagnosed, have interrupted their treatment, or are facing treatment failure.
For men, who are often less proactive about routine health checkups, late diagnoses are common, worsening their health outcomes.
Nelson Otwoma, Chairperson of the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/Aids in Kenya (Nephak), warned that Kenya is losing ground in its fight against HIV-related deaths.
“HIV-related deaths are making a comeback because people are delaying testing or doing it when it’s too late, especially men. We need to address the barriers preventing men from accessing care early,” he said.
In response, the government has designated at least 140 health facilities across the country to handle the growing number of AHD cases.
These hospitals are equipped with comprehensive care packages, trained medical personnel, and advanced laboratory diagnostics to manage critically ill patients.
To improve outcomes for people with advanced HIV, Kenya is developing an AHD implementation plan.
The initiative, still in draft form, will guide healthcare workers in the screening, treatment, and prevention of opportunistic infections, and ensure that patients are promptly linked to other vital health services.
The World Health Organization recommends a robust package of interventions for AHD, including screening for opportunistic infections, rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and intensified adherence support.
Dr. Momanyi emphasized the urgent need to optimize early detection, calling for the widespread use of CD4 tests to identify advanced cases.
