The Principal Secretary for Public Health, Mary Muthoni, has assured Kenyans that there are enough drugs to treat malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis.
“All is well, and nobody will go without treatment or medication for HIV, malaria, and TB,” she said.
Speaking during an interview with TV47, Muthoni noted that the ministry is reviewing its HIV and TB programs to ensure they remain effective.
“We have to repurpose and align our programs. We are also reallocating resources to cater for the needs,” she said.
The PS added that the government has shown commitment by allocating funds to support HIV, TB, and malaria programs and ensuring drug availability.
Her remarks come amid fears among patients whose medication has largely been funded by the US government since 2003, at the height of the AIDS pandemic.
The concerns follow a 90-day freeze of USAID funding announced by President Donald Trump on January 20, which could see Kenya lose more than Sh25 billion annually.
However, on June 24 this year, Kenya signed four Global Fund grants worth Sh59.7 billion ($407,989,068).
A joint statement from the Ministry of Health and the Global Fund said the money will support HIV, TB, and malaria interventions and strengthen health and community systems.
The grants include: HIV: $232,580,654, Malaria: $72,934,665, TB: $67,785,529 and Health systems strengthening: $34,688,220
The funding will help provide quality care and prevention services for people with TB, leprosy, and lung diseases.
“It will contribute to achieving Universal Health Coverage through comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, and care,” the statement said.
It also aims to reduce malaria incidence and deaths by at least 75 per cent by 2027 and strengthen health systems at both facility and community levels.
The Global Fund will support the procurement of medicines, laboratory supplies, and test kits for TB, malaria, and HIV.
It will further support primary healthcare activities at the community level under the Universal Health Care agenda.
Additionally, the fund will help facilitate social support and pay premiums for TB, HIV, and malaria patients to access a full Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) benefit package.
