HIV and TB Overview: Kenya

At a glance

CDC works with partners in Kenya to strengthen the country's public health and clinical systems, deliver quality HIV testing and treatment services, and respond to emerging public health threats.

Three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center. The Maasai are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting northern, central and southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.

Background

Since 2004, CDC in Kenya, through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has worked with multiple stakeholders. This includes the Kenya Ministry of Health (MOH), local, and international partners. Together, they support and strengthen prevention and control efforts of the HIV and tuberculosis (TB) epidemics.

To achieve these goals, CDC is:

  • Developing strategic policy guidelines, national HIV surveillance, and strategic information systems.
  • Improving service delivery in HIV and TB prevention, identification, linkage, treatment, and retention of people living with HIV (PLHIV) or TB.
  • Implementing laboratory services, strengthening health systems, and establishing partnerships with national and county governments.
  • Establishing and maintaining financial management systems to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with required regulations.

Download CDC Kenya's Fact Sheet‎

Learn more about CDC's global HIV and TB work in Kenya.

HIV and TB data

HIV/AIDS

Estimated HIV Prevalence (Ages 15-49)

Estimated AIDS Deaths (Age≥15)

Estimated Orphans Due to AIDS

Reported Number Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (Age≥15)

Tuberculosis (TB)

Estimated TB Incidence

TB Patients with Known HIV-Status who are HIV-Positive

TB Treatment Success Rate

Key activities and accomplishments

Comprehensive HIV treatment

  • Provision of antiretroviral treatment (ART) to 781,716 PLHIV, including 33,411 children below 15 years.
  • 95% of all PLHIV on treatment have an undetectable HIV viral load (VL).

Elimination of mother-to-child transmission

330,044 pregnant women enrolled in antenatal care know their HIV status. Of those testing positive for HIV, 99% are on HIV treatment, enabling babies to be born HIV-free.

HIV prevention

  • 36,394 men were medically circumcised through voluntary male medical circumcision (VMMC) to prevent acquiring HIV.
  • 59,574 individuals received pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
  • 232,025 adolescent girls and young women received prevention interventions.
  • 278,532 individuals in vulnerable populations received free health services.
  • 1.5 million Kenyans were tested for HIV, and those who are negative were linked to HIV prevention resources.

TB/HIV

CDC continues to provide TB preventive treatment (TPT) to PLHIV on ART focusing on scaling up shorter regimens. 96% of HIV/TB patients in CDC-supported sites received ART while on TB treatment. CDC supported the MOH in developing the 2023-2028 TB, Leprosy, and Lung Health Strategic Plan.

Laboratory and health systems strengthening

Eighty-nine labs received international accreditation over the past 15 years. This contributed to 1.2 million HIV viral load tests, 900,000 TB tests, and 11 million HIV diagnostic tests per year.

Proficiency panels were provided to 21,000 staff for HIV/TB testing, 65 VL/Early Infant Diagnosis labs, and over 2,000 TB labs - included 202 GeneXpert. In addition, CDC implemented continuous quality improvement activities in 3,857 rapid HIV testing sites.

CDC set up a national laboratory equipment calibration/servicing center and biosafety cabinet certification. This improves the quality of testing health worker safety.

CDC provides continued technical support for laboratory-based surveillance and surveys. This includes:

  • SARS CoV-2 surveillance in PLHIV.
  • Recency surveillance.
  • HIV drug resistance.
  • The Kenya Population-based HIV Impact Assessment.

CDC conducted country readiness assessments and developed memoranda of understanding between CDC and counties for phased transition of HIV and TB services. CDC established 12 government-to-government (G2G) cooperative agreements with counties.

Science, surveillance, and strategic information

Ninety-two percent of patients on treatment have an electronic medical record for more efficient tracking. CDC leads the incorporation of the unique national identifier in the electronic systems. This facilitates tracking of HIV service provision longitudinally across facilities.

CDC leverages existing rich individual-level data to roll out site-level implementation of machine learning to improve patient outcomes.

With support from CDC, Kenya’s comprehensive HIV surveillance programs continue to increase coverage of:

  • Case-based surveillance.
  • Recent HIV infection.
  • Mortality.
  • Drug resistance surveillance.

In partnership with CDC, Kenya is investing in a key population biobehavioral survey in nine high-priority counties. CDC facilitates effective program planning and resource allocation for epidemic control and a national population-based HIV impact assessment. These efforts helped obtain the current status of the epidemic.

Resources

Tracking PEPFAR Impact Toward Global Targets
CDC's leadership role in PHIA surveys including where these surveys have been conducted.
CDC in Kenya
Learn about CDC's work in Kenya.
Kenya | Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

Support for CDC's global HIV and TB efforts.‎

CDC's Division of Global HIV & TB activities are implemented as part of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); non-HIV related TB activities are supported by non-PEPFAR funding.

Our success is built on the backbone of science and strong partnerships.

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Content Source:
Global Health Center