United States Senator Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, took HIV tests to raise awareness of the virus in the western Kenyan city of Kisumu on Saturday as part of their 15-day African tour.
According to Kenya's Sunday Standard, Obama told the crowd: "If a senator from the United States and his wife can get tested, then everyone in this crowd, and in this town and in this province can get tested."
HIV/AIDS has been one of the senator's key messages during his trip to Kenya, where his father was born. He encouraged people to know their status, as this was the "first step to controlling the spread of the disease".
The senator's visit is especially significant in Kisumu, where the prevalence rate is 15 percent - more than double the national average of about six percent.
Obama, the only black US senator, visited South Africa last week, where he criticised the government for promoting traditional medicines to fight AIDS rather than life-prolonging antiretroviral therapy.
According to Kenya's Sunday Standard, Obama told the crowd: "If a senator from the United States and his wife can get tested, then everyone in this crowd, and in this town and in this province can get tested."
HIV/AIDS has been one of the senator's key messages during his trip to Kenya, where his father was born. He encouraged people to know their status, as this was the "first step to controlling the spread of the disease".
The senator's visit is especially significant in Kisumu, where the prevalence rate is 15 percent - more than double the national average of about six percent.
Obama, the only black US senator, visited South Africa last week, where he criticised the government for promoting traditional medicines to fight AIDS rather than life-prolonging antiretroviral therapy.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
Share this article