Kenyans seeking HIV treatment are no longer ushered to separate clinics for services.
They now join the normal hospital queues and are served in the general clinics, a move known as integration.
The National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NEPHAK) welcomed the move saying it helps continuity of services after the US government stopped financing HIV services in Kenya.
“Global funding cuts, particularly the temporary suspension of US aid in January, have significantly strained HIV care services in Kenya. One of the immediate consequences was a shortage of nevirapine prophylaxis for newborns, despite the drug being available in central warehouses,” said Nelson Otwoma, the Chief Executive Officer of Nephak.
He added: “Delays in distribution and staffing disruptions, especially among lower-cadre healthcare workers like adherence counsellors, further worsened access to services. Many youth-friendly and drop-in centers were closed, forcing patients to seek care in general hospitals, where stigma and lack of privacy deter treatment adherence. Counties are now integrating HIV services into broader healthcare systems to maintain access, and the Ministry of Health is distributing longer-term ARV prescriptions to reduce clinic visits.
The Global Network
of People Living with HIV (GNP+), a non-profit with membership in Kenya, called
for a collaborative approach to provide solutions.
Regional leaders, health experts and advocates gathered in Nairobi recently met in Nairobi for the People Living with HIV (PLHIV) Leadership Forum to chart a sustainable path forward for the continent's HIV response.
The stakeholders called for a more
collaborative approach in quest for solutions to be able to alleviate the crisis
created by the aid funds closure.
Dr Mumbi Chola of the African HIV Control Working Group called for urgent political recommitment and a new financing model that are people centered.
He said: “We can no longer operate as if it is business as usual. We have depended heavily on donor funding, but the time has come for us to rethink how we sustain our HIV response using advocacy network and local systems.”
Chola emphasised six pillars for
sustainability, including increasing domestic financing, investing in
community-led interventions, and reforming punitive policies.
“Communities have always been at the core of HIV response. If we don’t empower and prioritise them, any gains we have made could easily be lost,” he added.
Dr Nduku Kilonzo, the former CEO of the
Kenya National Aids Control Council, echoed the urgency, noting that sustainability
had long been discussed but rarely actualised.
“Funding of the past is in the past,” she said. “We now have to ask what do we give up, and what must we protect at all costs? HIV response must be redesigned to fit within national systems so that when donor funds disappear, we are not starting from scratch again.”
Kilonzo further pointed to the severe disruption in community services and data systems following the withdrawal of US funding.
“In over 20 countries, stand-alone NGO services were either partially or fully disrupted. This is not just a funding issue but rather a systems issue. I call upon governments to absorb healthcare workers previously funded by donor programs and integrate community-based HIV services into national health frameworks.”
The data shared during the forum also painted a complex picture. While there has been significant progress in reducing HIV-related deaths and infections particularly in eastern and southern Africa, there remain deep regional disparities and persistent challenges with access, especially among children and key populations.
Andy Seale of the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the need for a strategic pivot in the global HIV response. He underscored the urgency of reprioritising and simplifying our approaches while securing buy-in from member states.
He said: “The importance of maintaining essential service delivery and commodity access calls for solidarity between networks of people living with HIV, key populations, and country health ministries. These are big changes, but there are huge opportunities for us. I urge all stakeholders to leverage the crisis as a turning point toward sustainability and stronger advocacy ownership.”
On his part, Dr Andrew Mulwa, head of the National Aids and STI Control Programme (Nascop) highlighted the measures Kenya has taken to feel the gap after the US funding cuts.
He said: “We have strategic measures in place to sustain services for over 1.4 million people on treatment. The Social Health Insurance Fund and buffer stock systems are key pillars to mitigate the 30 per cent decline in global funding. Kenya remains committed to a resilient HIV response beyond 2030.” He called for continued collaboration with partners and civil society.”
