MONEY CIRCULATION IN SUGAR BELT FUEL HIV INFECTION IN KENYA
By MAURICE ALAL
Sony sugar factory in Awendo division of South Nyanza contribute to a high rate of HIV infection because of high circulation of money.

“Most workers and sugarcane growers spend their money to buy sex from women and young girls,” says Leonard Oloo Chief Executive Coordinator Rural Aids Prevention and Development Organization (RAPADO).

The existence of a factory in a region brings job opportunities and developments but for Awendo residents, a lot of sexual activities leading to high death rate. And for that there are over 4000 orphans in Migori district.

“Women and young girls are lured and sleep with factory workers to get money,” said Mary Akello a widow and a mother of five who earns a living through sell of food.

Akello is now HIV positive after involving in the unsafe sex to provide for the children. “I had to sleep with cane workers without protective just to please them,” she said.

She is one of the women who suffer silently in Migori district after contracting HIV because of the hardship that widows go through.

According to statistics, Nyanza leads in HIV prevalence in the country by 13% against 6.1% nationally. However, Awendo division is leading by 20% meaning out of every 100 people, 20 might be infected.

“The latest records from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation have shown that Migori district is leading by 24.4 % said Oloo adding that RAPADO work in collaboration with government and other organizations in the fight against HIV in the district.

Mr. Oloo who has worked against the fight HIV infection in Awendo for 16 years said Awendo sugar belt attracts people from different areas whose backgrounds is unknown and because of the money circulation in the area, sexual activities are very high.

“At times I fail to sell food and my kids waiting for food. I have to sell my body to have a meal,” said 30 year old Adhiambo.

However, high HIV prevalence in Migori has led to increased number of orphans, widows and child headed families hence high school drop outs driving young girls into sex work.

Young boys have fallen victim of the risks going on at the cut canes. Most of these boys are orphans and help their fathers to cut and ferry sugarcane. These boys get a lot of money which they spend in buying sex from night clubs which is the booming business in the district.

The authorities in the area have put strict measures to reduce sexual activities through creating HIV awareness. Mr. Oloo said the organization has put in place sensitization programs to encourage communities to go for HIV test and male circumcision.

“We also mobilize communities to abolish wife inheritance for HIV infection reduction. We urge people to go for testing to enable them plan for their life despite the outcome,” he said.

According to Impact Research and Development Organization, District Social Mobilizer, Dan Aketch, HIV prevalence in Migori is high along the sugar belt and lake region. This has prompt measures such HIV awareness, male circumcision, door to door awareness and couple testing among others.

However, Voluntary Medical Male Circumcisions (VMMC) as a measure to cut down on the infections has been positively impressed especially by young boys thinking they are 100% safe. This led to premature sex after the cut.

The study, being circumcised is not a certificate to unsafe sex but one should use condom when having sex.

Male circumcision only reduces HIV infection by 60%. It also prevents women from getting cervical cancer and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Despite these efforts VMMC still face challenges such as myths and misconception, age, where the foreskin is taken to and the injection to relief one from pain.

“Why should I go for the circumcision at the age of 78!.Circumcision reduces the size of genital and where will my foreskin be taken to?” asked Otieno Omolo a resident of Migori district who said he no longer.

This has led to low turnout and according to Mr. Aketch, only 208 cut out of 640 targets was done in June living them with 512 cut undone that is July and June target.
END