The State Department for Internal Security & National Administration, in partnership with the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council, convened an annual progress review meeting with Regional and County Commissioners from the 47 counties.

The meeting reviewed progress in addressing new HIV infections, gender-based violence, and adolescent pregnancies among adolescents and young people.

The review assessed key indicators outlined in a Commitment Plan that applies a whole-government and society approach to end the ‘Triple Threat.’

Since its inception in 2021, the end the Triple threat initiative has directly reached nearly 2 million adolescents and key stakeholders, created awareness and mobilized citizens to take appropriate actions including encouraging reporting of sexual and gender-based violence, supporting adolescent mothers to return to school.

The progress report revealed that there were about 180,000 fewer children and adolescents attending antenatal clinics in 2023 as compared to 2018, new HIV infections among adolescents despite being still high had reduced from about 98 every week to 68.

The meeting also noted an encouraging increase in reporting of sexual and gender-based violence cases to formal systems across counties. The initiative fosters communities sensitization to stop kangaroo courts that led to complacency in dealing with cases of sexual violence.

The broad partnership to end the Triple Threat, which includes United Nations agencies, is coordinated through a National Steering Committee and a Thematic Working Group. The team developed training materials and have so far equipped 2,092 Trainers of Trainers as community champions.

During the progress review meeting, Ms Beverly Opwora, Secretary for National Administration, reaffirmed the shared commitment of the multiple government agencies that is fostering collaboration and localized solution to address the triple threat. She underscored the importance of leveraging on all Government platforms to deal with challenges facing adolescents and young people including alcohol, drugs and substance use disorders.