United States of America through the United States Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue funding health programs in Kitui County aimed at improving health care for the county residents.
The US Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Kenya, Deputy director Dr. Jennifer Galbraith, who is also the director for United CDC Kenya President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFER) further disclosed that 1. 2 million shillings has already been released for this year’s health programs for the county, promising more funding for the health programs.
Dr. Jennifer, while speaking to the media after she held a consultative meeting with Governor Dr. Julius Malombe noted that the health care programs will continue being implemented in partnership with the Kitui county government.
For more than 40 years, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has helped strengthen Kenya’s Public health, laboratory system, and operations leading to an integrated research center.
CDC Kenya implements a program funded by the USA president’s emergency plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR), the USA President Malaria Initiative (PMI), and the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA).
Dr. Jennifer while speaking during the meeting further recalled that Kitui county benefited with 30,000 dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the last three years CDC had to spend Ksh 670 Million in the county. Dr. Jennifer added that the US will continue supporting Kitui’s efforts to expand and strengthen HIV prevention, care, treatment, and surveillance.
“For the first time in January 2023 we started direct funding to Kitui County with 1. 2 million shillings and we are hoping to grow our partnership with the County,” Ms. Jennifer revealed.
Dr. Malombe reiterated that the partnership is highly valued and all funds would be utilized in a transparent and the most accountable manner.
The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for health and sanitation Ruth Koki appreciated the CDC health programs, noting that the health programs have been a game changer to the beneficiaries’ livelihoods.
“Under the previous CDC program, we have managed to reduce mother-to-child HIV/AIDs transmission from 17 percent to 10 percent and with continued support, we aim to reduce its transmission rate to 5 percent, ” said Ms. Koki.
The health and sanitation CECM added that with the full implementation and facilitation of the program, her office will work on capacity building of health workers, and continued improvement of health services as well as the prevention of Tuberculosis (TB) transmission.
Ms. Koki underscored that 247 out of 2470 villages across the county have been involved in the CDC health programs and in the wake of continued support, community volunteers ought to be compensated.
Present during the meeting held at the Governor’s board room were the newly appointed County Executive Committee Members(CECMs) and Chief Officers(COs) and CDC officials, Dr. Emily Koech of the Centre for the International Health Education and Biosecurity (C.E.O _CIHEB) and Dr. Samuel Mwenda of the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK).
