NAIROBI, Kenya — Health CS Aden Duale has held talks with paediatric experts aimed at strengthening newborn, child, and adolescent health services as part of Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
The consultative meeting brought together officials from the Ministry of Health and a delegation from the Kenya Paediatric Association (KPA), led by Supa Tunje, to address gaps in care delivery and improve outcomes across the health system.
Discussions centred on enhancing the quality of care along the full continuum—from pregnancy and delivery to postnatal services and early childhood—while reinforcing referral systems to ensure timely access to specialised treatment.
Officials identified persistent gaps in essential services, including access to blood and other life-saving commodities, which continue to affect maternal and child health outcomes.
The ministry reiterated that reducing maternal and newborn mortality remains a national priority under the Taifa Care Model, a key pillar of the government’s health reforms.
Efforts are being accelerated through the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE), implemented with support from the World Health Organization and UNICEF, alongside the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI), which targets service delivery bottlenecks and backlog clearance.
The meeting also highlighted the need to review and strengthen benefit tariffs for children under UHC, particularly for immunisation and nutrition services, to improve affordability and equitable access.
Duale emphasised the importance of expanding neonatal and paediatric intensive care units across the country to enhance access to critical care, especially in underserved regions.
He also called for investment in workforce development through training and curriculum reforms, noting that skilled personnel are essential to improving service delivery and health outcomes.
The KPA was recognised for its technical role in shaping child health policy, strengthening data systems, and promoting accountability within the sector.
Stakeholders agreed on the need for a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to ensure that child health priorities are fully integrated into national planning and decision-making frameworks.
The meeting comes as Kenya continues to implement health reforms under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), with a focus on expanding access to quality care and reducing preventable deaths.
Duale said the government remains committed to ensuring that “every child not only survives but thrives,” underscoring the broader policy shift toward preventive care, early intervention, and system-wide strengthening of health services.
