Kenya to Conduct AIDS Survey

Kenya will conduct a large-scale HIV survey for the first time, the country's Daily Nation said Tuesday. The random HIV tests of 8,000 people countrywide are part of a three-month population and health survey by the Planning and National Development Ministry that began April 4. Those to be tested are men ages 15-54 and women ages 15-49. Principal investigator James Mutunga said blood samples will be taken from at least two people in each of 4,000 homes, according to the paper. Test results will be confidential and not even be given to those tested. "We are not interested in knowing the individuals' HIV status," Mutunga said. "Our aim is to establish the disease prevalence rate," he said, adding that the survey would be voluntary. Central Bureau of Statistics Director David Naro said the survey will cost about 6 million shillings (about $79,000) and the results are expected by August.

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