The Ministry of Health (MOH) has assured Kenyans that it has sufficient stocks of HIV commodities to last for more than six months, this assurance comes after the withdrawal of funding from the World Health Organization (WHO) by the United States.
The US government is the largest single bilateral donor globally and in 2023 they contributed USD 72 billion as development aid to rest of the global community.
Speaking to the press, the Director-General for Health, Professor Patrick Amoth, acknowledged the potential impact of the US government’s decision but emphasized that Kenya has strengthened its supply chain to ensure there is no disruption in service delivery.
“I want to assure Kenyans that we have sufficient stocks of HIV commodity and Antiretroviral drugs( ARVs),we have strengthened our supply chain pipeline in the last 1-3 years to ensure that at any given time we have more than six months stock.”
Currently, an estimated 1,377,784 Kenyans are on treatment and with the help of U.S funded initiatives like President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Kenya has made significant progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS nearly achieving its triple 95 global targets.
“We are on target as country on our triple 95 global targets, meaning 98 per cent of Kenyan population know their HIV status and out of those who know their status 98 per cent of them are on treatment, we are slightly lagging behind in terms of viral suppression at 94 per cent against the global target of 95 per cent this is due to mother to child transmission of HIV.”
The potential disruptions that could arise from the U.S withdrawing aid include interruptions in HIV treatment for thousands this could lead to increased risks of drug resistance, and a possible rise in mother-to-child transmission which relies of viral suppression.
Next steps
The Ministry of Health has reaffirmed that Kenya’s HIV treatment program remains on track and that they have a contingency plan in place. Amoth explains,
“This was the best practice as we ran a big program. We have nearly 1.4 million people on ARVs, and we are always ready with a plan B to address any contingencies that arise either deliberately or out of events outside our control. This is why we are able to report a very strong and successful program.”
Kenya is taking proactive measures to mitigate the negative effects of funding cuts by the U.S and ensure the continuity of healthcare services. The Ministry of Health is actively engaging with other development partners, international agencies, and private sector stakeholders to secure alternative resources and fill gaps in the supply of essential medicines.
A media brief provided by MOH stated, “To address the funding gap, we are focused on strengthening local capacity. Investments are being made in local pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce dependency on external sources and enhance the resilience of the country’s supply chains. Furthermore, we are forging regional partnerships to ensure a steady and reliable supply of essential medicines.”
Professor Amoth appealed to all members of the community to ensure that those who are on treatment go to their facilities to receive their medications. He also emphasized that the government has the medicines and healthcare workers to provide the necessary services.
“I want to appeal again to the members of the community and family members to ensure that those who are on ARVs go to the facilities to be able to receive their medication because we have the medicines.”
Speaking on the government’s best practices to ensure continuity of service Amoth revealed;
“To ensure seamless service delivery, our prescription pattern for ARVs require that we give 3 to 6 months of medicine so nobody should be able to miss their medication despite what’s happening globally, that is for us to discuss as technical partners our role is to ensure that we shield the patient who requires treatment and ensure that they continue to receive that treatment uninterrupted.”
The government is also focused on strengthening local capacity by investing in local pharmaceutical manufacturing and forging regional partnerships to ensure a steady and reliable supply of essential medicines. In addition, investments are being made in digital health systems to improve data collection and monitoring.
Despite the challenges posed by the US funding cuts, the Kenyan government remains committed to ensuring the health and well-being of all Kenyans. Professor Amoth encouraged citizens to remain vigilant, continue seeking care, and adhere to prescribed treatments. The Ministry of Health will keep the public informed as the situation evolves.
“The epidemic will only hit us hard at the local level if our patients top taking their medication.” The DG concluded.