Chuka University Marks World AIDS Day Commemoration in Tharaka Nithi County

Students from Chuka University’s Maisha Youth Club, alongside staff from the AIDS Control Unit (ACU), took part in the World AIDS Day commemoration at Chiakariga, Tharaka Nithi County on December 2, 2024. The event, presided over by Dr. Gichuiya Nthuraku M’Riara, County Executive Committee Member for Public Health, Medical Services, and ICT, Tharaka Nithi County, was held under the theme, “It’s a Race Against Time: Promoting the Health and Well-being of Men and Boys.”

In his remarks, Dr. M’Riara applauded Chuka University’s active participation in raising awareness and called for strengthened collaboration between academic institutions and healthcare stakeholders. He emphasized the need for research to address critical gaps, such as understanding why increased awareness about AIDS and its transmission does not always lead to behavior change.

Dr. M’Riara also engaged the Maisha Youth Club students in an insightful mentorship session. He urged them to prioritize academic excellence and become proactive agents of change in their communities by advocating for HIV/AIDS prevention, combating stigma, and promoting health awareness.

World AIDS Day, observed annually on December 1, serves as a platform for raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, commemorating those who have lost their lives to the virus, and renewing commitments to end the epidemic.