KISUMU, Kenya -The US Embassy and the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) have initiated comprehensive measures aimed at achieving the “Triple Zero” outcomes.
This initiative, known as Operation Triple Zero (OTZ), seeks to empower Adolescents and Young People Living with HIV (AYPLHIV) to commit to achieving three key objectives: Zero Missed Appointments, Zero Missed Doses, and Zero Viral Load.
In addition to providing life-saving treatment, OTZ includes a range of income-generating activities and peer support group forums organised by members of the Youth Clinic at JOOTRH.
What are the statistics?
This program has been a transformative force for HIV patients since the establishment of the Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC-HIV Clinic) in 2003.
As of May 2025, the CCC-HIV Clinic provides HIV care, treatment, and prevention services to approximately 6,800 patients.
Statistics from JOOTRH indicate that among those receiving treatment, there are 800 adolescents and 2,175 patients over the age of 50.
Additionally, the clinic manages around 1,000 patients with chronic medical conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and mental illnesses.
Furthermore, it serves about 20,000 individuals each year who seek HIV testing services.
Tales from Lived Experiences
During an assessment tour of the facility on Tuesday, US Deputy Chief of Mission Carla Benini expressed her satisfaction with the stakeholders’ efforts in fostering a vibrant OTZ community for healthy living.
“This support program has alleviated suffering that existed 10 to 15 years ago. The current generation is now educated, capable of earning a living, and enjoying success,” Benini remarked.
As informed advocates, she noted that this generation is well-positioned to lead efforts in reducing HIV prevalence at the grassroots level.
The highlight of the envoy’s visit was her opportunity to learn about OTZ activities and hear patients’ stories of successes and challenges.
JOOTRH CEO Dr. Richard Lesiyampee highlighted that the facility is the first CCC-HIV clinic in the Nyanza and Western regions and one of only two in the country.
“We are pleased that most of the HIV patients who have been under our care for over 15 years are still alive,” he stated.
Birth of HIV-free Newborns
Another notable achievement, according to Dr. Lesiyampee, is the birth of numerous HIV-free newborns after attending to 2,500 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers each year, which has significantly reduced HIV transmission from mother to child.
Recently elevated to the status of a state corporation, JOOTRH also offers services such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Violence Care, Voluntary Male Medical Circumcision (VMMC), and Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT) for People Who Inject Drugs (PWID).
The envoy was accompanied by Hans Walker, the Director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with other members of the JOOTRH management team.
“As a country, we need to support young men and women who are affected by HIV, whether knowingly or unknowingly. It is essential that we budget appropriately to become independent, rather than relying solely on partners,” Dr. Lesiyampee advised.
