NAIROBI, Kenya – The government has reassured over 1.4 million people living with HIV that they will continue receiving antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, despite the United States’ decision to cut foreign aid.
Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai said the government would reallocate funds to sustain critical health programs, ensuring continued access to ARVs, malaria treatment, and tuberculosis care.
“They need not worry because we will sit down with Treasury to make sure we continue funding. It’s a question of adding additional sources through the Treasury,” Kimtai said in Naivasha on Wednesday after a meeting with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
His remarks follow the suspension of activities by key U.S. health agencies, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
The PEPFAR program has been instrumental in supplying ARVs, and its funding cut is expected to affect several African countries reliant on U.S. support.
We Are Prepared And Committed To Sustaining HIV/AIDS, MOH Assures Kenyans africabusinessnews.co.ke/we-are-prepare…
To strengthen healthcare services, Kimtai also announced that the government is preparing a Quality of Care Bill aimed at improving standards in both public and private health facilities.
Meanwhile, KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari said they had introduced a healthcare management system to enhance efficiency in hospitals.
The funding shortfall has prompted African leaders to explore alternative financing models to sustain critical health initiatives.
