Teenage pregnancies and sexual gender-based violence are still prevalent in informal settlements, with three times more people who had been targeted turning up for a football tournament for health and wellness.

It also emerged that new HIV infections were still rife among young people aged 14 to 24, threatening the gains made in the fight against the triple threat.

The organisers of the event – which also incorporated HIV testing and counselling, family planning services, cervical cancer screening and sexual gender-based violence screening and counselling – said they had targeted 500 people, but about 2,000 turned up, signalling the need for the services.

Belinda Kamundi, a supervisor at the Mukuru Kwa Ruben health centre, a faith-based organisation, noted that the community was receptive to the services offered daily.

“However, we are concerned about the new HIV infections amongst the youth aged between 15 and 24,” she said, pointing out that an event such as a football match is important because it is a platform where more men are easily reachable.

The tournament was held at the Mukuru Kwa Ruben stadium in Embakasi South.

Health messages

Studies show that men are poor seekers of health services, but Kamundi said that at an activity like a football tournament, service providers are able to reach them with health and preventive messages, services for testing, and linking them to care in case they need it.

“An estimated 90 percent of men who turned out for the tournament were eager to know their status, and pick up condoms, because they believe that prevention is better than infection,” she said.

It also emerged yesterday at a football tournament – hosted jointly by Good Life Trust, the Ministry of Health’s National STI Control Programme (Nascop) and the Nairobi County government to enhance health and wellness services for the Mukuru Kwa Ruben ward community – that HIV testing and counselling, and family planning services were the most sought after interventions.

Kamundi decried self-stigma as notably high in the Mukuru community, where many people shy away from learning about their HIV status.

“This is because they are not aware that having HIV does not mean a death sentence.

“However, this is something they are able to be taken through due to pre and post counselling,” she said.

Besides the HIV Testing and Counseling, Family Planning services, free cervical cancer screening and free Sexual Gender Based (GBV) screening and counselling and linkage to care, about 10, 000 condoms and 2, 000 sanitary pads were distributed .

“The turnout is huge with 700 clients being screened at different entry points,” said Rosemary Njeri Njuguna, the managing director, Beyond Health.

It also emerged that since the majority of the men in the Mukuru Community are the breadwinners, and work in companies around this place, leaving very eagerly and coming back late, the best time to catch them is during the weekend, and hence why the football tournament.

“The HIV services were the most sought for, clearly indicating many people are eager to know their status,” she said.