As a result of the recent decision by the United States Government to suspend funding for various global health programs, including in Kenya, the Principal Secretary (PS) for Medical Services, Harry Kimtai, has appreciated the role of various stakeholders in strengthening government efforts in providing reliable healthcare services, urging them to seek alternative sources of funds, so as to continue discharging their mandate.
The PS noted that this development has created considerable repercussions worldwide more so in Kenya, where it is not merely a shift in policy but a representation of a reality that has the potential to disrupt lives, hinder progress, and undermine the various milestones the country has achieved in providing quality healthcare services to Kenyans.
He stated that Kenya has benefitted from various partnerships with international agencies, donor organisations, and foreign governments for decades highlighting initiatives such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund, and USAID-supported programs, which have played instrumental roles in ensuring access to life-saving medications, enhancing healthcare infrastructure, and sustaining essential public health interventions.
Kimtai added that millions of Kenyans have received vital services, including HIV treatment, vaccinations, and maternal and child healthcare, due to these collaborative efforts. "These initiatives are not simply statistics; they represent real individuals, families, and transformed lives," stressed Kimtai during a high-level consultative meeting to discuss government-led mitigation measure on foreign aid adjustments Further, he bemoaned the abrupt cessation of funding which presents significant risks that threaten to reverse the progress made in managing HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases, in addition to jeopardising Kenya's health workforce, supply chains, and community-based interventions. "Nevertheless, even amidst these challenges, we must remain resolute and innovative.
