Alarm As Teenage Pregnancies, HIV/AIDS Increase in Homabay County
The County Government of Homa Bay has reported a rise in HIV/AIDS infection and teenage pregnancies in the county.
Leah Mukangai 
Eliud Onyango, County Director of Disaster Management,has revealed that according to according to a research conducted by the Overseas Development, gender inequality, difficulties in accessing reproductive health services, and poverty are fueling high rates of teenage pregnancies and HIV infections in Homa Bay.
Onyango revealed that there was a need for community support in raising awareness about teen pregnancy prevention by counseling youths and advising them to avoid unprotected sex.
“I am calling upon members of the communities around to begin teaching the teens right from the family level because they basically have the solutions to their challenges,” Eliud stated.
The Director also stated that they were collaborating closely with the National AIDS Control Council (NACC) and Georgetown University on human-centered design (HCD) in HIV response. He noted that the major perpetrators of teenage pregnancies were fishermen and riders in the bodaboda sector.
County Coordinator of Children's Services Peter Kutere acknowledged that teen pregnancy is on the rise, with Ndhiwa Sub-County leading the way.
He also stated that according to 2020 statistics, Homa Bay County has the second-highest number of teenage pregnancies in the country.
The county government has now all parties involved to be cautious of the situation and to join hands together in fighting the problems facing the youths in the county.
