Denmark to give Kenya Sh2.4billion for primary healthcare

Denmark has committed Sh2.4 billion to support primary healthcare in Kenya as well as equip level two and three facilities with necessary resources.

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe and Danish ambassador to Kenya, Ole Thonke announced this during their meeting on Thursday.

The two countries resolved to evaluate various areas of collaboration aimed at expanding the country’s health sector, especially in primary healthcare.

“We have an extra Sh1.2bn for the same targeting level one facilities that will work with community health workers,"Thonke said.

He said the support, which included Covid-19 vaccines donation, has helped the country implement a raft of measures.

On the other hand, Kagwe said Kenya is ready to support multinational pharmaceutical companies in setting up their regional production units in the country.

“We would be happy to encourage Danish companies to establish here, and, we would support them in all ways," he said.

"We have structured the micro and macro environment to support this. For instance, we reduced taxes and payments for manufacturers to encourage them to set up."

The health CS appealed to the Danish government to consider introducing exchange programmes for Kenyan healthcare workers on speciality training.

The two countries signed an MOU to distribute and supply health commodities including support for the changing diabetes in children initiative.

The initiative, that targets type one diabetes, is currently supporting 3,000 children up from 160 when the project kicked off ten years ago.

The health CS urged Novo Nordisk pharmaceutical company to consider local manufacturing for some of its pharmaceutical products saying the Covid-19 pandemic brought to fore the need to diversify production of essential products.

The development coming as the country steps up reforms within the health sector.