Kenya has reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening her capacity to detect and respond swiftly to disease threats and outbreaks should they arise.
Health CS Susan Wafula on Wednesday said Kenya remains committed to Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mission to strengthen health institutions in the country.
The CS spoke during the 11th Ordinary Session of the Africa CDC Governing Board in Nairobi.
“Our collaboration with the Africa CDC and its member states will continue to be a top priority for us, including our support for the full operationalisation of the Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre,” the CS said.
The EA-RCC coordinates Africa CDC partnerships and activities in the 14 Member States in the Eastern Africa Region.
It has been involved in strengthening surveillance and laboratory systems and public health communications in the region.
The RCC is involved in supporting response to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies in Eastern Africa.
Priority infectious diseases for the region include viral hemorrhagic fevers, including Rift Valley fever (RVF), which affects a large portion of the Member States.
In April, the CS raised concern that emerging disease outbreaks in neighboring countries pose a major health risk to Kenya.
