Kenya: The Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) has officially handed over health assets and programme responsibilities to the West Pokot County Government, marking a new phase in the longstanding partnership aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and county ownership of health programmes.
According to Kenya News Agency, the handover ceremony held at the Governor’s residence in Kapenguria, saw AMPATH transfer digital health infrastructure, computers, internet accessories, and other equipment to the county, with Governor Simon Kachapin assuring the organisation that the assets would be properly managed and put to maximum use.
Governor Kachapin said the occasion represented more than the transfer of equipment, describing it as an important transition towards greater county ownership and sustainability of health services. He expressed appreciation to AMPATH for its support to West Pokot over the years, particularly in strengthening HIV, tuberculosis, and specimen referral programmes, saying the interventions had contributed significantly to improved access to essential healthcare services.
The Governor assured AMPATH and other development partners that the county had the systems, capacity, and committed workforce required to assume the responsibilities associated with the assets and programmes.
AMPATH Executive Director for Care Programmes and Chief of Party of the USAID-funded AMPATH Uzima programme, Prof. Sylvester Kimaiyo, said the organisation’s partnership with West Pokot dates back to 2006, building on HIV services established at the then Kapenguria District Hospital in 2005. He noted the evolution of the partnership beyond HIV treatment to encompass testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, community-based services, health-worker capacity building, commodities and supply-chain strengthening, health education, and referral-system development.
Kimaiyo added that AMPATH supported the county in 2019 to develop a business plan for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, with the programme expanding its reach significantly over the years. According to Kimaiyo, HIV services in the county have recorded notable progress, with the mother-to-child transmission rate declining significantly from previous years, achieving a rate of 7.8 per cent in 2026, against the national target of five per cent or below.
AMPATH Uzima currently supports HIV testing and prevention services in 32 health facilities, while 17 facilities provide comprehensive antiretroviral therapy (ART) care and treatment. A total of 4,760 clients are currently receiving ART in the county, comprising of adults, adolescents, young people, and children.
Kimaiyo also highlighted the programme’s success in achieving a 92 per cent viral-load suppression rate and an 89 per cent viral-load uptake, indicating continued progress in HIV treatment monitoring and care. The partnership’s contributions to the digitisation of health services, including the use of AMPATH Medical Record System (AMRS) and KenyaEMR, have strengthened documentation, monitoring, and delivery of HIV services.
Furthermore, Kimaiyo mentioned that the county was preparing to leverage TaifaCare powered by AMRS, a digital health system designed to integrate various medical services into a more connected workflow. He also noted that Kacheliba Sub-County Hospital serves as a Centre of Excellence for HIV and non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, and mental health.
The assets officially handed over were valued at about KSh16.4 million, including HP all-in-one desktop computers, APC Smart UPS units, universal UPS equipment, and TP-Link wireless routers. Other AMPATH-supported assets already deployed at facilities include a range of technological and medical equipment.
County Executive Committee Member for Health Claire Parklea acknowledged AMPATH’s significant contribution to the wellbeing of West Pokot residents through its support. She welcomed the transition of assets and personnel to the county health system, emphasizing the additional expertise would enhance service delivery.
Kimaiyo remarked that the transition aligns with Kenya and the United States’ move towards a Government-to-Government (G2G) model to enhance government ownership and leadership of health programmes. He assured continued support from AMPATH during the transition to safeguard gains made and strengthen the county health system.
The ceremony was attended by county officials, health practitioners, AMPATH representatives, development partners, and members of the public.
