The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) has reassured Kenyans that the country has sufficient stocks of anti-retroviral (ARVs) and tuberculosis (TB) drugs despite concerns arising from the recent USAID funding freeze. This assurance comes as fears mount over the potential disruption of critical health services, particularly for individuals relying on life-saving medication.
The US government has played a crucial role in Kenya’s health sector since 2003, providing substantial funding through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). However, the decision to freeze funding, a move initiated during Donald Trump’s administration, has placed Kenya at risk of losing more than Sh25 billion annually, which supports various health programs and over 41,500 healthcare workers.
Despite the financial uncertainty, NSDCC CEO Dr. Ruth-Laibon Masha has emphasized that there is no immediate cause for alarm, as the country has enough supplies of ARVs and TB drugs to sustain patients. She affirmed that the government is actively working to mitigate the funding shortfall, ensuring continued delivery of these essential medications to more than 1.3 million people living with HIV.
During a meeting with County Executive Committee Members for Health in Naivasha, Dr. Masha called for locally driven interventions to safeguard critical HIV/AIDS services from disruption. She urged counties to establish strategies to address the funding gap, particularly to support the 11,000 frontline health workers at the county level who may be affected by the funding freeze.
The Kenyan government, along with global partners such as USAID and the Global Fund, has achieved remarkable progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS over the past two decades. Dr. Masha highlighted that 98 percent of people living with HIV in Kenya are aware of their status, and 94 percent have achieved viral suppression thanks to continuous treatment. However, she expressed concern over rising HIV infections among young people, attributing the increase to risky sexual behavior, alcohol consumption, and drug use.
As the country grapples with this financial challenge, Dr. Masha called on the US government to reconsider its funding freeze, emphasizing the vital role that external support has played in controlling HIV and TB. She also urged the Kenyan government to use this as an opportunity to strengthen domestic resource mobilization and realign its health budget to accommodate the Sh25 billion funding deficit.
Khatri Ali, a board member of NSDCC, echoed Dr. Masha’s sentiments, describing the funding freeze as a wake-up call for Kenya to increase its own investment in procuring essential medicines. He stressed the need for long-term solutions that do not overly rely on donor funding.
In response to the crisis, counties are forming Stakeholders Implementation Committees to restructure their health programs and ensure uninterrupted delivery of critical health services. These committees will play a key role in coordinating efforts between national and county governments to maintain progress in the fight against HIV and TB.
While the immediate drug supply remains stable, the coming months will be critical in determining how Kenya navigates this financial challenge to ensure sustained healthcare for vulnerable populations.
