Kenya has been ranked as the country with the second-highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa, according to a recent report by UNAIDS.

The East African nation trails only South Africa in the number of citizens affected by the pandemic.

The report reveals that approximately 1.5 million Kenyans are living with HIV/AIDS, accounting for about 4.5% of the adult population.

The prevalence rate is particularly high among women, young people, and marginalized communities.

Health experts attribute the surge in cases to inadequate access to healthcare services, particularly in rural areas, as well as a lack of awareness and education about the disease.

The report also highlights the need for increased investment in HIV prevention and treatment programs which is still regarded as a pendemic in the east African nation.

Meanwhile, the Kenyan government has pledged to scale up efforts to combat the pandemic, including the rollout of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the implementation of comprehensive sex education in schools.

As the country strives to meet the UN’s 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat, civil society organizations and health advocates are urging authorities to prioritize evidence-based interventions and address the social determinants driving the epidemic.