Strathmore Business School Signs Pact with National AIDS Control Spread of HIV and AIDS Virus

Strathmore Business School SBS, Institute of Healthcare Management have partnered with National AIDS Control Council NACC in a collaborative for training and policy analysis program for HIV and AIDS Prevention, Care and Management.

The alliance targets  to  advance the fight against HIV and AIDS in Kenya with the aim of getting to zero new infections, zero AIDS related deaths and zero stigma and discrimination, leveraging on the comparative strengths of each institution.

NACC and SBS will develop and deliver short courses in HIV Programming in Kenya and Graduate Programmes in HIV prevention.

“For us to deliver on the Maisha strategic plan, we must be ready to work with the people whose core competence are on training,” remarked Dr. Nduku Kilonzo, Director NACC.

“National health strategies have been rather reactive to epidemics, limiting the power of national institutions and other stakeholders to properly harness resources in building strong and sustainable health institutions. We hope that this MoU will provide relevant solutions to Kenyans.” explained Prof. Gilbert Kokwaro, Director Institute of Healthcare Management- SBS.

The signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between National Aids Control Council and Strathmore Business School on Tuesday was presided over by Dr. Nduku Kilonzo, Director NACC, John Kamigwi, Deputy Director NACC, Prof. Gilbert Kokwaro, Director Institute of Healthcare Management- SBS, Dr. Angela Ndunge, Faculty Director- SBS, amongst other dignitaries.

According to the latest HIV/AIDS prevalence reports as highlighted by Dr. Kilonzo, there are 1.6 million people who are living with HIV/AIDS, 900,000 currently under treatment, which accounts for 66%. HIV/AIDS is the leading killer of adolescents and young people in Kenya, from ages 15-24.

‘The number of new infections are higher than the mortality rate which is an indication of insignificant control over epidemics. In order to stabilize the rate of new infections, we must be ready to train, inform and deliver on the core competencies across all players. Managing HIV/AIDS has to be a multisectoral task,” said Dr. Kilonzo.

Dr. Kilonzo continued that the current cost of treatment for people living with HIV and AIDS is sh. 18 billion against a National health budget of sh. 60 billion .

 “We are hopeful that our engagement with Strathmore Business School will culminate to the development of a framework on how to develop and make use of local research, mobilize resources and efficiently account for the expenditure. Advancement of local research must translate to policy and practice,” concluded Dr. Kilonzo.