Healthcare workers in Kenya will now be able to get jobs in the UK’s National Health Service in a new agreement signed on Thursday.
The agreement was signed by UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Labour CS Simon Chelugui during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s third day of a visit to London.
The exact numbers of those who will go to the UK and the processing of visas will be confirmed in the next three months.
A statement by the British High Commission in Nairobi said the special arrangement was part of a request by the Kenya government to capitalise on qualified but unemployed health workers.
The President also witnessed the signing of the Kenya-UK Health Alliance, which will bring together UK and Kenyan universities and teaching hospitals on health partnerships.
“Our health partnership with Kenya is 30 years old and growing stronger by the month. This new agreement on health workers allows us to share skills and expertise even further, and is a fantastic opportunity for Kenyans to work in the UK,” British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said.
Among areas of interest in the new deal is on improving treatment, prevention and management of cancer in Kenya.
“From Covid-19 vaccines and genomic sequencing, to exchanges on cancer research and treatment to help Kenya treat more cancer patients at home, the UK has a long and proud history of support for Kenya’s health sector,” Marriot said.
There are 894 Kenyans working across all roles in the NHS in England, making Kenyans the 30th largest nationality group in the NHS.
“We have a historic and mutually respectful relationship with Kenya. This has been strengthened by working closely with Kenya during the pandemic and sharing UK vaccine doses to support Kenya’s fight against Covid-19,” UK’s Secretary of State for Health Sajid Javid said.
“Our healthcare agreement will make the most of UK and Kenyan health expertise which will be beneficial to both countries, with the exchange of knowledge and training which will provide first class healthcare,” Javid added.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed a donation of 817,000 Covid-19 AstraZeneca vaccine doses for Kenya through bilateral donation.
Earlier this month, the UK also announced new support on genomic sequencing with the Kenya Medical Research Institute to tackle emerging Covid-19 variants.
Edited by A.N
