The Murang’a county government has assured residents that delivery of all health services will continue uninterrupted, as the health sector to reels in confusion following the aid freeze by the US government.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata said health workers have already been appraised of provision of HIV/Aids and tuberculosis services that have been most affected by the aid freeze.
The stop-work order signed by US President Donald Trump on his first day back in office halted all foreign assistance programmes for 90 days pending a review.
The freeze on global health aid also affected the PEPFAR programme that has been helping to manage HIV/ Aids in Kenya.
The governor said this may result in some delays but added that his administration is doing everything possible to ensure the services are procided as usual.
“All clients will continue receiving uninterrupted services at the respective health facilities since integration of services had been going on in a phased manner. Health workers in county facilities have been appraised on treatment of clients and availing medications and other commodities,” he said.
The US embassy said Washington has invested at least eight billion dollars in Kenya through the PEPFAR programme since 2003.
Since then, PEPFAR has moved from an emergency programme to focusing on controlling the epidemic, building an emergency response, emphasising sustainability and establishing partnership frameworks, to focusing on sustainable control of the epidemic.
In 2023, the programme provided life-saving antiretroviral treatment to 1,299,989 men, women and children.
About 32,272 HIV-positive expectant women also received antiretroviral drugs to reduce the risk of motherto-child transmission during pregnancy and delivery.
It also conducted voluntary medical male circumcision for 52,562 men for HIV prevention and cared for 608,090 orphans and vulnerable children.
About 3,088,687 Kenyans had their HIV tests and underwent counseling through the programme that also provided about 43,000 health care work staff across the country and supported 2,923 HIV Comprehensive Care Clinics.
Trump’s directive has left many local programmes supported through the US funding in limbo and the fate of thousands of workers who ran the numerous activities hanging in the balance.
On January 27, Director General for Health Patrick Amoth acknowledged the critical role played by the US-Kenya partnership, which has helped strengthen HIV programmes, disease prevention and health system resilience.
“Kenya has made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV/Aids, with 98 per cent of people living with HIV aware of their status and on treatment and 94 per cent achieving viral suppression,” Amoth said.
He said the ministry was engaging other development partners and investing in pharmaceutical manufacturing to prevent treatment disruptions.
Murang’a County has summoned the affected workers
for a meeting to discuss the next course of action.
