Mombasa: The U.S Government has reaffirmed commitment to strengthening her partnership with Kenya in the health sector through enhanced health security programmes. Acting US Ambassador to Kenya, Susan Burns, said health security rarely makes headlines when systems are functioning effectively and only becomes visible during moments of crisis, when outbreaks spread, systems are overwhelmed, and economies and national stability are threatened.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Acting Ambassador disclosed that the US government will spend approximately $290 million (Sh33.9 billion) on health programmes in Kenya this year. ‘The United States is prioritizing health, security, humanitarian assistance, and economic innovation programmes. In health, we continue to support HIV, TB, malaria, influenza, disease outbreak surveillance and response, and keep mothers and children healthy,’ she added.
The collaboration between the US and the Government of Kenya has ensured that 1.3 million Kenyans living with HIV, have access to lifesaving treatment, while 150,000 children have been born HIV-free. Between 2010 and 2020, malaria prevalence in the country also reduced by 50 per cent.
The Acting Ambassador affirmed that the United States has not abandoned health programmes and was instead working to roll-out more initiatives. She noted that through the US-Kenya Health Cooperation Framework, the US continues to support Kenya’s health sector with an overall investment of approximately USD 1.6 billion (Sh206.5 billion), including significant support for global health security.
‘That investment is not abstract. It is visible in systems, people, and results. You can see its impact in how Kenya is able to respond when threats emerge. During recent M-pox and Marburg alerts, detection was faster, coordination was stronger, and response was immediate,’ stated the acting ambassador.
She attributed the early detection and rapid response to systems Kenya has established, including laboratory networks capable of quickly identifying threats, field epidemiologists who respond swiftly, surveillance and data systems that enable early action, screening at points of entry, cross-border coordination to prevent wider transmission, and 26 Emergency Operations Centres across 25 counties.
‘The United States has been a partner in that work, including by providing support for the establishment of the Kenya National Public Health Institute and by helping train field epidemiologists through the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme,’ said Burns.
‘That is what partnership looks like. Not just through funding, but through creating systems that work, training ready people, and realizing results you can see. Results that protect both Americans and Kenyans,’ she added.
