At the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held in New York, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Aden Duale, led a high-level delegation to meet with Jeffrey Graham, the Senior Bureau Official and Acting Global AIDS Coordinator of the US. This pivotal bilateral meeting underscored the longstanding collaboration between Kenya and the United States in advancing public health and health security, with a particular focus on HIV treatment and health system strengthening.
Since 2010, the US has been instrumental in supporting Kenya’s health initiatives, notably through programs like PEPFAR (The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and PMI (President’s Malaria Initiative), which have collectively provided life-saving HIV treatment to over 1.4 million Kenyans. These efforts have drastically reduced new infections and deaths linked to HIV/AIDS in Kenya, marking a significant milestone in the country’s health journey.
As the partnership progresses under the new America First Global Health Strategy, Cabinet Secretary Duale emphasized Kenya’s commitment to maintaining these health gains. He highlighted the country’s focus on reforms aimed at strengthening health systems, improving transparency, and increasing the mobilization of domestic resources to sustain these improvements.
The discussions at the UNGA also touched upon important topics such as ensuring continuity of care for patients, increasing the visibility of funding for health programs, and fostering technology transfer to improve local healthcare capabilities. There was a notable emphasis on local manufacturing of essential medicines and health equipment, aiming to reduce Kenya’s dependence on foreign imports.
Kenya also showcased its ongoing investments in digital health infrastructure, reforms within the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), and the enhancement of disease surveillance systems. These initiatives align with Kenya’s broader goals of achieving self-sufficiency and sustainability in its healthcare delivery, ensuring that the country is better equipped to respond to future health challenges.
The meeting also led to the establishment of a Kenya–US Technical Coordination Mechanism, which will guide the transition of health programs in Kenya as the country continues to take more ownership of its health systems. This partnership represents a new chapter in Kenya’s health policy, one that will hopefully set the stage for more sustainable health solutions in the years to come.
