PS Oluga pushes for data-driven action on HIV, TB response

Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga during the Sub-National Data Review and the Annual Joint HIV and Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy (TPT) Review meetings held in Naivasha on April 17 /HANDOUT

Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga has urged health officials to turn data into action to strengthen Kenya’s HIV and tuberculosis response and improve service delivery.

He said despite progress in managing HIV and tuberculosis, persistent gaps in service delivery, case detection and treatment continuity continue to slow gains, calling for faster, evidence-driven responses.

“Data is only useful if it leads to change. We must ensure every insight informs a decision and every decision improves outcomes,” Oluga said.

He warned that delays in acting on findings risk reversing milestones already achieved.

The PS spoke during the Sub-National Data Review and the Annual Joint HIV and Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy (TPT) Review meetings in Naivasha.

Oluga called for stronger coordination between the national government and counties, noting that fragmented efforts continue to undermine progress.

He said there is need for unified planning, resource allocation and programme implementation to ensure consistent and quality care across regions.

“Fragmented efforts continue to undermine progress. We need unified planning, resource allocation and programme implementation to ensure consistent and quality care across regions,” Oluga said.

The meetings brought together Ministry of Health technical teams and county officials from Nandi, Bomet, Makueni and Machakos to assess performance, identify gaps and refine strategies in tackling the two diseases.

At the same time, health officials reviewed county-level performance focusing on key indicators including HIV testing, treatment uptake, TB detection and the rollout of preventive therapy.

Discussions highlighted disparities among counties, with some regions recording steady gains while others lag behind due to limited resources, inconsistencies in reporting and gaps in follow-up care.

Oluga urged counties to learn from each other by adopting best practices and scaling up interventions that have proven effective in improving outcomes.

He also stressed the importance of accountability, calling on health managers to take ownership of results within their jurisdictions.

“Every number represents a person. We must treat this information with the urgency it deserves because behind it are lives that depend on our response,” the PS said.

The review meetings form part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Health to strengthen disease control programmes and enhance quality of healthcare services nationwide.

They also provide a platform for aligning national priorities with county-level implementation, ensuring that policies translate into measurable impact on the ground.

As Kenya continues its push to control HIV and tuberculosis, Oluga’s message remained clear: progress will not be defined by the volume of information collected, but by how quickly it is turned into life-saving action.