MoH, WHO partner to boost healthcare

It will now take Kenya three days to get medical supplies, including vaccines, from abroad courtesy of a new deal between the Government and the World Health Organisation to build an Emergency Hub for storage of medical equipment.

Previously, it took up to 45 days to ship in medical supplies from the WHO stores overseas, and this heavily hampered timely response to pandemics especially the Covid-19.

However, Health Cabinet Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha yesterday stated that the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and WHO Regional Office for Africa had resolved the challenge.

“This is indeed a historical and momentous occasion for this country and the African Region at large, as we continue to work towards strengthening our health systems and improving our response to emergencies and disasters,” said the CS.

The world, especially the developing regions are faced with an increasing number of Health Emergencies ranging from disease outbreaks such as the ongoing cholera outbreak in the country and the recent outbreak of marbuurg virus in our neighbourhood with a significant risk of spread to our country.

Nakhumicha noted that these particular emergencies pose major health, social, economic and security risks that threaten to reverse years of health and development progress in Africa “As we have all witnessed over the past three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of preparedness and response in the face of health emergencies,” she said, noting that one of the biggest challenges Kenya faced in the response was the lack of essential commodities such as PPEs and Covid-19 vaccines due to the global supply chain challenges and vaccine apartheid.

The establishment of the WHO regional Hub in Kenya, the third in the region will serve as a modern storage facility for medicine and medical consumables.

“It will also aid in medical crisis management,” the CS added.

Operations Manager at the WHO Africa Regional Office, Thiam Adama, said the establishment of the Hub will pave way for the improved supply of Medical equipment. He cited that initially, it took 45 days to send medical products to African countries, and having this hub will reduce turnaround time to three days.

“This hub will reduce turnaround time to three days, ease supply of medical equipment and medical products to all African countries,” said Adama.

Capacity building

WHO country representative, Dr Abdourahmane Diallo said that the UN body will back the MOH in unpacking the country’s Universal Health Coverage pillar.

“Furthermore, this hub will enable us to build on the progress we have already made towards achieving universal health coverage in Kenya, “ said Diallo.

The Hub will also house a centre of excellence specialised in capacity building in health and crisis emergency management.

It will allow WHO to effectively and swiftly support Kenya and all Eastern and Southern African countries by maintaining stockpiles of medical and logistical supplies.

“Through this partnership with WHO, we will have access to the organisation’s global network of experts, and knowledge,” he added.

Nakhumicha reiterated the government’s commitment to work with WHO and other regional partners to strengthen the country’s health systems and improve preparedness and response to health emergencies.

“With this hub in place, we are better equipped to protect the health and wellbeing of our people and to respond to emergencies with speed and efficiency,” she said.

It is envisioned that the Emergencies Hub will serve as a modern storage centre for essential medical equipment and consumables that will ensure timely logistical support to countries with emergencies in Eastern and Southern Africa.

The Hub will also house a centre of excellence specialised in capacity building in health and crisis emergency management.

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