Groups Launch Initiative To Fight HIV/AIDS in Kenya’s Lake Victoria Basin

The East African Community, the Lake Victoria Basin Commission and the African Medical and Research Foundation on Tuesday in Kisumu, Kenya, launched a joint initiative to fight HIV/AIDS among populations located along the Lake Victoria basin, the East African Standard reports. The initiative plans to work with community organizations, fishing associations, the Inter-University Council of East Africa and EAC member countries' ministries of health. The three-year program, which is being funded by the Swedish government, will cost more than 400 million Kenyan shillings, or about $6 million, and will target about 40 million people. EAC Minister John Koech at the launch said that some districts in the lake basin have HIV/AIDS prevalences "as high as 18% or more." AMREF Country Director Mette Kjaer indicated that the program could be extended beyond the initial three years (Mosota, East African Standard, 9/4).