First Lady Margaret Kenyatta today met South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka and they agreed to work together to fight the HIV/AIDS stigma. They stressed the need for increased awareness to reduce AIDS stigma.
The First lady said HIV stigma is an impediment to disclosure of HIV status, prevention services and open discussion of the ailment. She spoke when Chaka Chaka paid her a courtesy call at State House Nairobi.
“We should keep on talking and talking about the disease to increase access to HIV information and services and therefore reduce stigma,” the First Lady said.
Ms. Yvonne, who is also Africa’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) Ambassador, praised the First Lady for her commitment to reduce preventable diseases among women and children through the “Beyond Zero” campaign.
She said it was due to the First Lady’s efforts to reduce maternal and new-born deaths that she won the 2014 United Nations in Kenya Person of the Year award.
Yvonne pledged to partner with the First Lady in her endeavors to reduce deaths among women and children from preventable causes. Yvonne was accompanied by her adopted son, 11-year-old Kenyan boy Elijah Zacchary Lamaiyan Simel.
The boy from Mwiki village in Nairobi and a pupil at Nyamai academy is a junior champion with the National Empowerment Network of PLHIV in Kenya (NEPHAK) for children living with HIV supported by UNICEF.
Addressing the First Lady, Master Zacchary living on ARVs, said HIV is not a death sentence to the victims if they take the medication as prescribed, drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet.
He thanked his mother for revealing his HIV status early and helping him understand the disease management. “I wish that all other parents would be like my mother to love and support their children living with HIV/AIDS,” he said.
He said all children are innocent with or without the disease and should be treated equally “as children of God”.
Master Zacchary appealed to the government to ensure that children continue enjoying their rightful healthcare and punish teachers and guardians who mistreat and discriminate them.
The First Lady later met officials from Athletics Kenya who paid a courtesy call to brief her on the country’s successful bid to host the 2017 IAAF World Youth Championships. The team was led by Athletics Kenya President Isaih Kiplagat and Sports, Culture and the Arts Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario.
Information by president.go.ke