Persons living with HIV/AIDS have called on the Ministry of Health to include HIV services in the Social Health Authority (SHA) package, noting that these services are deteriorating after donor funding was cut. They expressed fear that PLHIV are at risk and are affected with HIV related co-infections, including Tuberculosis and related comorbidities yet these services are not covered under the Social Health Authority cover.

Drawn from community-led networks, under the leadership of the National Empowerment Network of people living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NEPHAK), the members marched to the Ministry of Health headquarters at Afya House on Friday 3rd October 2025, to present a petition to the Ministry demanding the inclusion of HIV services in the SHA package.

Patricia Ochieng, CEO of Ringa Women and NEPHAK member noted that ‘We, the people living with, at risk of and affected with HIV and related co-infections, including Tuberculosis and related comorbidities have noticed the deteriorating quality of HIV services.’

The members highlighted that HIV services go beyond providing ARVs, yet other important services are missing or have monitory cost. They noted that they are faced with side effects due to the drugs they are taking (ARVs), therefore other services HIV services are key for their wellbeing.

Nelson Otwoma, NEPHAK Executive Director noted that ’Before one is put on ARVs, they need to be tested, HIV testing in this country has collapsed. When one tests positive, there are other tests to be done in a laboratory, which include CD4, viral load, creatinine for the kidney, and liver function taste. Since there is no money from Global Fund and PEPFAR, for those who go to pick their ARVs, they are told to go and pay for these tastes in private labs yet these people don’t have money. Can the Ministry of Health provide a waiver for the user fees that they are charging’.

The members further called on government, through the Ministry of Health, to include these HIV care services in the Social Health Authority package for PLHIV. ‘The things that we need to monitor like the viral load, CD4 and TB test, can they be covered under the Social Health Authority (SHA). The more SHA is continuing to exclude people living with HIV that is stigma and discrimination, which is against the Kenyan constitution’ added Nelson Otwoma.

They pointed out that PLHIV deserve the quality of HIV care as outlined in the Guidelines on ‘Minimum Package of Care’, including quality laboratory services and not just the issuance of ARVs. They urgently called for provision of documentation on the numbers of (PLHIV) and needs (HIV Minimum package of care) for consideration by Social Health Authority coverage. The members want lab tests and diagnosis to be made free for PLHIV as part of care (creatinine, liver function test, Drug Resistance Testing).

They also called for the sustained improvement of quality of HIV care even in the face of integrated people centered health services. The members promised to escalate the conversation countrywide if the Ministry of Health fails to act upon their demand letter in two weeks.