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Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has announced that the country will soon be adopting a three-testing HIV algorithm to deal with the virus.

Kagwe highlighted that the implementation would strengthen ongoing efforts to deal with the virus adding that this is the first time the country is conducting a review of a testing algorithm.

“I congratulate and thank members of the task force for exhibiting professionalism and adhering to WHO recommendations while undertaking the assignment,” Kagwe stated.

He additionally pointed out that the field testing will start in selected counties ahead of the national rollout.

The CS was speaking during a ceremony where he received a preliminary report from a technical task force on the adoption of the procedure on Saturday, August 3.

Acting Director General for Health Patrick Amoth echoed Kagwe’s remarks stating that the task force which has the mandate of reviewing performance reports of the HIV testing algorithm will be implemented per the protocol and adopted as the country’s testing algorithm.

On his part, task force chairperson Andrew Mulwa opined that the three-test algorithm was the best implementation contrary to the two-test algorithm.

While backing his sentiments, he underscored that WHO had recommended the three-test algorithm for countries with HIV prevalence of less than 5 per cent with Kenya having 4.3 per cent.