At the fifty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, being held in New York March 9-20, a Kenyan campaign to stop new HIV infections among children has been highlighted as an example of what committed political leadership can achieve in improving women’s access to health care.
The First Lady of Kenya, Margaret Kenyatta, launched her Beyond Zero campaign to improve maternal health and stop children being born with HIV in 2014. Less than a year later, 18 mobile health clinics are now serving some of the country’s most affected communities, with many more planned to open soon.
“In today’s world, gender equality and women’s empowerment are no longer privileges,” said Margaret Kenyatta. “They are rights that every woman should enjoy. I call on all leaders to ensure reducing child mortality, improving maternal and child health and combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases are part of the post-2015 agenda.”
Ms Kenyatta raised some of the initial funding for the campaign by running in sponsored marathons. She inspired around 30 000 people to join her, propelling the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV to the top of the country’s health agenda.
Last month, the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, also pledged the country’s support and leadership for the global All In campaign to end adolescent AIDS, which was launched in Nairobi in March 2015.
