The latest international ranking shows Kenya’s huge investment in health systems during the Covid-19 pandemic is paying off.
The index by the Global Health Security is an assessment of 195 countries’ ability to respond to pandemics.
Kenya ranks fourth in Africa, and position 84 globally, according to the latest index, for 2021.
In Africa the best prepared are South Africa, Mauritius and Nigeria.
However, the index shows all countries remain dangerously vulnerable to future biological threats.
The index is developed by researchers from the Brown University School of Public Health, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which helped fund and establish the index.
Public Health PS Mary Muthoni said, after the Covid-19 pandemic, Kenya has rapidly improved its health systems capacity to prevent, detect, and respond promptly to outbreaks.
Muthoni said Kenya’s approach to epidemic preparedness is anchored in strategic documents such as the National Action Plan for Health Security and the Disease Surveillance and Response Strategic Plan.
“Our nation places a premium on early warning and prediction, employing diverse surveillance systems encompassing routine data, community deaths, events, and entry points screening,” she said.
“Environmental and wastewater samples are rigorously collected and tested to detect potential infections circulating in our communities.”
The PS said the country is also adopting the One Health approach, a collaborative effort among the ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Environment.
It addresses zoonotic diseases, food safety, and Antimicrobial Resistance.
She said since Covid-19, Kenya has advanced diagnostic capabilities, transitioning from molecular diagnostics to genetic sequencing, and has significantly strengthened pandemic prevention efforts.
“The expansion of laboratory capacity, with more than 100 PCR laboratories nationwide [to amplify small segments of DNA] and a network of public health laboratories with 11 national reference laboratories, underscores our dedication to staying at the forefront of health security,” she said.
The PS also noted that since 2021, the Ministry of Health actively engaged in international processes led by the WHO, participating in the development of an international pandemic treaty.
This includes representation in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) responsible for drafting the treaty. Kenya is also part of the Working Group on IHR amendments to ensure coherence between the two critical processes. It emphasises equity, access, technology transfer, diversified manufacturing, and common but differentiated responsibilities.
Kenya will also host the World Health Organization Health Emergency Hub, which will improve preparedness for health emergencies in Africa.
The African region experiences more than other region in the world, according to the WHO.
Its world health experts say despite the advances countries have made, the Covid-19 pandemic exposed huge gaps, particularly the continent’s lack of emergency responders.
WHO analysis in 2022 found that fewer than 10 per cent of countries in the African region have the workforce required to prepare, detect and respond to public health risks.
The new hub in Nairobi will help train a corps of 3,000 elite responders from across the region.
The aim is for each country in Africa to have at least one integrated team of emergency experts who will be ready to deploy within the first 24 hours of a national health crisis.
A wide range of professionals including laboratory experts, epidemiologists, data managers, anthropologists, field logisticians and mental health and psychosocial experts will receive training.
The Emergency Hub will also oversee a variety of subregional activities in Eastern Africa, including maintaining stockpiles of medical and logistical supplies and stationing WHO staff to ensure quick deployment during emergencies.
One such emergency is the deepening drought and food insecurity in the region. More than 80 million people in the eastern African region are food insecure and with rising malnutrition, a health crisis is looming.
“I thank the Government of Kenya for its leadership and generosity in supporting the Emergency Hub,” said WHO boss Dr Tedros Adhanom.
“The Hub will improve the capacity of African countries to prepare, detect and respond to health emergencies, support resilient health systems, and strengthen the regional and global health architecture.”
The Hub will be fundamental for WHO Africa’s flagship initiative for health security, which was launched in 2022. The initiative aims to ensure that one billion Africans are better protected from health emergencies by the end of 2025.
WHO is contributing $47 million (Sh7.4 billion) for the implementation of the regional flagship initiative.
“Covid-19 has exposed how critical it is for Africa to be self-reliant,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.
“By developing our own national elite responders, building robust surveillance systems and investing in pandemic preparedness, we are strengthening the speed of the response and creating a better future for our children.
“I thank the Government of Kenya for its visionary leadership which is ensuring the continent can stand tall and proud and not be brought down to its knees by a virus.”
The WHO flagship initiative is the result of extensive consultations with more than 30 African government ministers, technical actors, and partners across the continent, who have contributed to shaping the priority activities.