Written By Michelle Ndaga
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to bolstering disease surveillance and emergency response systems as part of a broader effort to enhance national health security and protect communities from emerging public health threats.
In this regard, the Ministry of Health has reiterated its full support for the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI), recognizing it as the lead agency responsible for coordinating and managing the country’s emergency preparedness and response initiatives.
Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, chaired a Strategic Leadership Meeting with the KNPHI team to assess progress made in strengthening surveillance and emergency coordination functions.
The session underscored the Ministry’s commitment to supporting KNPHI’s transition and operational mandate, which focuses on early detection, prevention, and a rapid, coordinated response to health emergencies.
PS Muthoni emphasized the importance of a robust and well-coordinated surveillance framework that promotes synergy across detection, confirmation, analysis, and response mechanisms. She noted that a unified system is essential to ensuring timely and effective management of public health risks at both national and county levels.
The meeting also reviewed outbreak management strategies and the Strategic Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, aligning them with ongoing government efforts to strengthen Kenya’s emergency preparedness, resilience, and response capacity.
