According to statistics from the Swedish Institute for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases, 122 Kenyans are infected with the HIV virus out of which 85 are women and 37 are men. Out of this number, a total of 10 Kenyans were infected with the virus last year. The Institute does not have an explanation as to why the number of Kenyan women carrying the virus is more than double when compared with their male counterparts.
The Statistics show that 3.900 Swedes are also infected with the virus. Although only ten Kenyans were infected with the virus last year, a total of 394 people contracted the virus in Sweden during the same period. 94 men contracted the virus through contact with other men, 194 through women-men contacts, 35 through intra-venous drug injections, 6 through mother to child during child birth while it is not understood how 62 others contracted the virus. There was no transmission through blood transfusion. The statistics show that majority of infections was through heterosexual contacts.
The number of people in Sweden newly infected with the virus last year increased by 2 as compared to 2005 which stands at 392. In 2004, the total number of new infections was 431.
Out of those infected, 86 were aged between 50-59 years, 64 between 25 and 29 years, 25 between 20 and 24 years while the number of teenagers (10-19) infected was 11. The statistics show that the latest high rate of infection in Sweden is among Wazee wa Kazi. It is believed that many elderly Swedish men who contracted the virus last year might have picked it up while on holiday abroad especially in Thailand where sex tourism abounds.
The statistics show that out of the 394 infections last year, 194 were infected before they arrived in Sweden, 99 were infected in Sweden, 48 were infected during trips abroad while it is not clear where 53 others were infected. When compared to 2005, the number of infections that happened in Sweden increased by 19 while those who were infected abroad during the same year also increased from 38 to 48.
The statistics come in the wake of court cases against two HIV positive Kenyans who have been accused by Swedish women of rape, infection with HIV virus and unprotected sexual intercourse. One Kenyan has since been found guilty and jailed for five years while another Kenyan will have his case mentioned on Friday 16th November.
Test results for the woman who has accused the Kenyan is still awaited. The Kenyan has denied having unprotected sex with the woman, arguing that he put on a condom but that the condom burst during coitus. He says that on another occasion, it is the woman who wanted unprotected sex even after he told her that she could be infected.
The Kenyan has also said that the woman who has brought him before the court is jealous after he fixed another woman nine months ago and could not therefore spend more time with her and their child. He has also said that all sexual contacts with the woman have been out of her own free will. The Kenyan says that the injuries which the woman claims were inflicted by him could have been inflicted in the process of her duties within the health care system. So far, two Kenyans – Mr. Antony Odera and Caroline Ayodo have gone public in Sweden with their HIV positive status. The rest – 120 Kenyans carrying the virus in Sweden – have refused to go public.
Okoth Osewe
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