No ARV shortage expected despite US funding cuts, government says
Health officials said they are confident that there are enough ARVs to cater to over 1.4 million patients in the country.
The government has assured people living with HIV that they will continue receiving antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, despite the recent suspension of the United States foreign aid.
Health officials said they are confident that there are enough ARVs to cater to over 1.4 million patients in the country.
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Speaking in Naivasha on Wednesday after a meeting with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai said the government would reallocate funds to sustain key health programmes.
“They need not worry because we will sit down with Treasury to make sure we continue funding to support those receiving ARVs, malaria treatment, and TB. It’s a question of adding additional sources through the Treasury,” Kimtai said.
As part of ongoing healthcare reforms, the government is also set to introduce a Quality of Care Bill. The proposed legislation will target both public and private health facilities, aiming to improve healthcare access and service standards.
KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari said the agency had introduced a healthcare management system to enhance efficiency in health facilities.
“This new system will help improve efficiency and service delivery while transforming the healthcare sector,” she said.
The government’s assurances follow the suspension of activities by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
The decision came after a directive to cut funding from US President Donald Trump.
Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth: I want to assure Kenyans that we have sufficient stock of HIV commodities, including ARVs and testing commodities. We have strengthened our supply chain pipeline to ensure continuous availability. pic.twitter.com/OIkApX7nIk
— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) January 29, 2025
The PEPFAR programme has played a critical role in providing ARVs, reducing infections, and ensuring treatment access for HIV patients.
The funding cuts are expected to impact several African countries, prompting leaders to seek alternative sources of support for essential health programmes.
Kenyatta's caution
Meanwhile, former President Uhuru Kenyatta cautioned African leaders against excessive dependence on foreign aid following the US directive.
Speaking at the East Africa Region Global Health Security Summit 2025, Kenyatta emphasised the need for African countries to develop self-sustaining mechanisms for disaster management funding.
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He warned that overreliance on external support could hinder long-term economic progress and urged African leaders to act accordingly.
“Some people were crying the other day that Trump has removed funding. It is not your government, nor your country, why are you crying?” Kenyatta said.
“He has no reason to give you anything, you don’t pay taxes in America. This is a wake-up call for you to know what you’ll do to support yourselves.”
Reflecting on the continent’s spending priorities, he pointed out that billions of dollars were being spent on weapons for conflict rather than investing in essential sectors like health and education.
“Whether we like it or not, funding for these (pandemics) has to come from ourselves. We have to begin to re-prioritise what is important for us as Africans on the continent,” he said.
“We need to remember the resources wasted when we kill each other. When we remember the lives lost in Sudan, all the way to the Sahel region, we’ve spent more buying bullets than protecting our health.”
The former president also called for better preparedness in Africa for future pandemics, stressing the importance of having policies in place to address such crises without relying on foreign vaccines.
“As Africans, we should not wait for others to come to our rescue,” he said.
“Our excitement when we watched CNN and BBC celebrate new vaccines being rolled out but none was coming to us – for any future pandemic, don’t think they’ll prioritise us. They give you the surplus, sometimes for free, once they have sorted themselves first.”
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