Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has reaffirmed the
government’s commitment to integrating Neglected Tropical Diseases(NTD) treatments
into national health strategies in line with Kenya’s health sector strategic plan,
Vision 2030 and the Universal Health Coverage( UHC ) agenda.
CS Duale made the commitment during a meeting with Dr. Monique Wasunna, African
Ambassador for the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi).
The meeting aimed at deepening the partnerships in the development of new
treatments for neglected diseases, with a focus on Kala-azar (Visceral
Leishmaniasis), clinical trials, regulatory processes, and health system
preparedness.
Duale also recognised the 11 counties that are currently affected
by Kala-azar and spoke on the efforts that the ministry is putting in to
contain the disease.
“As a Ministry, we are putting in efforts to combat
Kala-azar, currently affecting 11 countries, and advancing equitable healthcare
access in marginalised communities,” the CS emphasised.
Dr. Wasunna, on her part, shared
DNDi’s five-pillar strategic framework targeting the elimination of VL as a
public health problem in East Africa by improving the health of vulnerable and
at-risk populations.
Also present during the meeting were Public Health PS Ms. Mary Muthoni,
Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, and Senior Deputy Director for
Health Dr. Sultani Matendechero.
NTDS are a group of parasitic and bacterial diseases that
cause substantial illness to more than one billion people globally.
Affecting the world's poorest people, NTDs impair physical
and cognitive development, contributing to mother and child illness and death.
It also makes it difficult to farm or earn a living, limits
productivity in the workplace, keeps children out of school, prevents families
and communities from thriving and causes social stigma and isolation.
Although NTDs are not a direct cause of mortality, they are known to cause immense suffering and often life-long disabilities.
These diseases are called neglected because they have been largely wiped out in the more developed parts of the world and persist only in the poorest, most marginalized communities and conflict areas.
