Kenya Broadcasting Corporation: – KBC News

by Symptom Advice on January 30, 2011

House Speaker Kenneth Marende is calling on the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission to investigate those who misappropriated funds meant for HIV/Aids.

This follows recent suspension contribution by donors to the global fund for malaria, Aids and TB over misuse.

Earlier in the week Germany and Sweden suspended their contributions to the global fund, until all corruption cases are investigated.  

This came after an audit in August revealed massive misappropriation of funds meant to help in the war against HIV Aids, malaria and tuberculosis.

Speaking in Mombasa during a one day workshop for MPs organized by National Aids Control Council, Marende asked the anti graft body to investigate and apprehend those involved.

Although Kenya has improved in infection rates compared to other countries, rate of new infections particularly among male sex workers is on the rise.

Up to 3billion shillings is disbursed annually from the government and external financiers who contribute 85% of the total amount on the fight against HIV/Aids.

The probe by the donors does not auger well for Kenya, as the country could be locked out of the kitty if it is established that money was misappropriated.  

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has Friday donated 10, 000 tablets of codeine phosphate drugs to treat the victims of alcohol, drug and substance abuse.

The WHO country representative Dr. Jack Abdoulie said the drugs were meant for treatment of the young people reported to have attained withdrawal symptoms over abuse of the substances.

Abdoulie said his organization had chipped in following a request by the government to be assisted in alleviating the problem which was threatening to get out of hand.

Receiving the donation Medical Services Permanent Secretary Ms Mary Ngari said the drugs would go along way to cushion the shortage which is currently being experienced in the local hospitals.

Ngari observed that abuse and dependence on the narcotic drugs was quite widespread with an estimated 50, 000 abusers being recorded nationally.

She said the problem needs to be urgently addressed and urged more well wishers to come to the victim's aid.

The PS said her Ministry was caught off-guard on the provision of treatment to the patients after they suddenly decided to declare themselves as drug and alcohol addicts unlike in the past when they had concealed the habit.

"the number of the patients is overwhelming for the government to treat after it was caught unawares as majority of the Kenyans who used to abuse the narcotics in secrecy came out to declare their status," said M/s Ngari.

She said the dosage by WHO would be used to treat the patients in the 12 sites recently established in Coast province where the abuse has been found to be rampant.

Ngari said other parts of the country were less affected and thus could be catered for by the treatment sourced from the money raised by local hospitals through the cost sharing programme.

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