Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary for Health, has called for efficient and verifiable programming approaches in the fight against HIV/AIDS in order to sustain the gains made over the years.
The health CS said the COVID -19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of self-sufficiency in local health security during a virtual planning meeting of the US president’s emergency plan for relief (PEPFAR) country operational plan.
“I propose that all partners support local production capacity by prioritizing purchase of locally manufactured products & commodities. Local production will ensure a steady supply of medicines to all health facilities & ease the burden of people living with HIV,” he said.
“To this end, the MOH is prioritizing the setting up of transparent information sharing and monitoring of the supply chain system including a national dashboard. This is to increase supply chain pipeline visibility to all stakeholders.” The CS informed the meeting.
He emphasized the importance of communities and civil society groups aligning their proposals with existing government policies and frameworks, even as he lamented the disproportionate risk of HIV infections and limited access to HIV services among certain subpopulations.
