3.7% Of Public Service Workforce Living With HIV/ AIDS- PS Gathecha

Public Service and Human Capital PS Amos Gathecha has reported that 36,260 public servants are living with HIV/ AIDS, translating to 3.7 per cent of Kenya's total public service workforce.
Speaking earlier today, Gathecha added that there is a strong relationship between HIV/AIDS and mental health challenges.
“Mental illnesses increase the risk of HIV infection; similarly, people living with HIV have an increased risk of mental illnesses,” Gathecha said.
The PS spoke when he officiated the validation workshop for the Draft Public Service Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS and related diseases by heads of department in Machakos County.
He further said that the implication was that HIV/AIDS has been a major drawback to the workforce service, however lauding the country’s leadership for putting in place policy frameworks to address issues affecting Kenyans’ health.
“These frameworks include the Constitution of Kenya 2010 that has made provisions for health as a right for all, Kenya Vision 2030, and other legislation that recognises the right to the highest attainable standard of health as a key foundation for sustainable development of our country,” he added.
He said the policy will guide measures to mitigate the effects of loss of working hours due to HIV and related chronic health conditions at the workplace, and improve employee’s productivity as well as their ability to seek healthcare services without fear of discrimination.