HIV drugs availability tops agenda as Kenya, US officials meet

Ministry of Health officials on Tuesday met with officials from the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) to discuss the critical issue of HIV commodity security in Kenya.

The delegation led by the Kenya PEPFAR coordinator Brian Rettmann met with the PS Medical Services Peter Tum.  

The dialogue also focused on the role of PEPFAR in securing a robust primary health care system in line with Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and securing the overall gains attained in HIV programming in Kenya.  

“With over 1.3 million people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Kenya, the country has made significant progress in the fight against HIV through strategic partnerships with organizations like PEPFAR and the Global Fund HIV,” the ministry said in a statement.

Since 2004, the US government through PEPFAR has invested more than Sh860 billion in Kenya.

The meeting is a crucial point of consultation towards aligning priorities in Kenya Country Operational Plan 2023 with the government agenda of improving the health of Kenyans and fast-tracking the 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets.

“The collaboration between PEPFAR and MoH is critical in ensuring the success of Kenya's fight against HIV and achieving universal health coverage for all,” Tum said.

Last month, the United States allocated Sh86.8 billion ($674 million) to fight HIV in Kenya for the next two years.

This money will buy ARVs and HIV-related medical supplies such as laboratory reagents and fund some programme activities in Kenya.

The funds will begin flowing in from October this year, which means the country is unlikely to face stockouts of drugs and other medical supplies.

The allocation was revealed by the head of the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief John Nkengasong in a letter to US Ambassador to Kenya Margaret Whitman.

Kenyan officials will for the next 10 weeks prepare a strategy called the country operation plan, detailing how the country will spend the money before the initial funds are released in October.

The Sh86.8 billion comprises allocations for two years.

Kenya will receive Sh44.6 billion ($346.3 million) from October to cover 2024.