The Ministry of Health has called for a holistic and patient-centered approach in addressing gaps in HIV response in the country.
Health CS Susan Nakhumicha has acknowledged that despite the progress made in combating HIV since the first case was reported in the country in 1984, there are still gaps in client outcomes.
The CS said that geographical inequalities and stigma continue to impede optimal HIV outcomes.
She was giving her virtual address during the ongoing HIV service delivery integration summit in Mombasa.
The summit has been organised under the theme, 'Re-imagining HIV in the Health Sector 2024'.
The CS called for an end to stigmatised stand-alone labelling of HIV services and clients in facilities.
She instead called for reorganisation of service delivery points through integration into other service delivery areas or transformation into broader chronic care models.
Nakhumicha further noted that the quality of life for PLHIV on long-term treatment is an emerging concern, particularly due to the increased risk of non-communicable diseases and mental health needs.
She noted that Kenya's HIV health service delivery currently operates predominantly through vertical programming, which results in high costs, parallel services, and gaps in quality of care.
“Specifically, for clients whose needs span beyond HIV such as those with non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, and diabetes the virus-only tragedy-specific care leads to suboptimal outcomes and non-responsive client experience within the health system,” Nakhumicha said.
“The isolation and specialised labelling of stand-alone HIV comprehensive care clinics further contribute to stigma and discrimination within health facilities,” she added.
According to ministry data, concerted efforts in combating HIV have seen a remarkable decline in new HIV infections, HIV-related mortality and mother-to-child transmission by 78 per cent, 68 per cent and 65 per cent respectively.
Today, it is estimated that 1.4 million people are living with HIV translating to a national prevalence of 3.7 per cent.
As of the end of December 2023, 1,336,234 people living with HIV (PLHIV) were receiving treatment while there are currently 8,851 HIV testing sites and 3,752 treatment sites across public, private and Faith-Based Organisations facilities in the country.
Nakhumicha reiterated the ministry’s commitment to redesign the HIV response to align with and contribute to the health reform agenda aimed at ensuring progress towards ending HIV as a public health threat.
She called for collaboration in strengthening of state institutions responsible for HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, safe blood supply management and supply chain management to the last mile.
This, she said, includes a review of financial support models from stakeholders, including PEPFAR to increase proportional funding through Government-to-Government funding mechanisms at all levels.
“Kenya will redesign HIV service delivery models to increase efficiency, promote equity and maximize resource utilisation while achieving the goal of ending HIV as a public health threat.”
She further called for strengthening and utilization of Kenya’s enormous potential for local manufacturing of pharmaceutical and healthcare products to significantly contribute to HIV commodity security while also propelling Kenya towards sustainable growth.
She said Kenya boasts the largest pharmaceutical industry in both the East African Community and the COMESA region, capable of producing over 90 per cent of drugs on the essential medicines list.