Kirinyaga County dismisses report on 12,000 students contracting STIs

In a statement released on Monday, the County’s CEC for Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation (CEC ) George Karoki said the remarks by the Education director were misleading, adding that the claim cannot be  substantiated.

According to Karoki, the department of Health recorded and treated 1,345 cases of sexually transmitted infections in Kirinyaga central sub-county and 4,409 cases in the entire county this year.

“These cases are for the general population and not for a specific cohort of patients,” Karoki said.

Over the weekend during a graduation ceremony, Mr Machora said Kirinyaga Central Sub-county 12,000 out 16,000 students have been treated for sexually transmitted infections.

“Whereas community education to deter our youths from risky sexual behaviour must be embraced by all sectors. It is equally important for officers in other departments to consult the health department for accurate data,” Karoki said.

 Karoki said the data as announced is extremely exaggerated and its source cannot be ascertained.

“We find it very reckless and irresponsible for a Government officer to make such blanket unsubstantiated statements and would like the sub-county Director of Education to present the source of his information,failure to which he should be held accountable,” Karoki said.

The public health CEC s“We have not at any one point in past carried out mass STIs screening in our secondary  schools,” Karoki said.