Ministry strengthens efforts against Mpox with WHO support
KNA by Manu Mumba
The Ministry of Health has received Mpox kits and drugs from the World Health Organization (WHO) through USAID to manage Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDS).
Speaking during the handing over ceremony, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Health Dr. Deborah Barasa said the kits have come at a critical time as Kenya tries to contain the Mpox outbreak that has so far affected at least three people in the country.
“The testing kits will significantly strengthen our capacity to detect and respond to Mpox cases more swiftly and effectively, ultimately saving lives and combating the spread of the outbreak,” she said.
Additionally, the CS stated that the medications will be utilized to fight three endemic NTDs in the country, namely schistosomiasis (SCH), soil-transmitted helminths (STH), and lymphatic filariasis (LF), in the Western, Lake Victoria, and coastal regions where the disease burden is still elevated.
The CS also noted that the country has made significant progress towards NTDs, by implementing impactful interventions targeting such diseases, including preventive chemotherapy.
“I want to acknowledge that the deployment of preventive chemotherapy medicines through Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaigns, targeting communities at risk play a critical role in the fight against NTDs by interrupting the cycle of disease transmission,” she said.
The CS affirmed that community health promoters would play an important role in implementing the MDA in endemic counties.
“I hereby direct that the teams conducting the MDA should additionally register all the members of the households that they visit for the Social Health Insurance Fund under the Social Health Authority so that they can enjoy affordable services under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program,” she added.
Barasa asserted that eradicating NTDs would facilitate progress towards Universal Health Coverage by guaranteeing that services are accessible to the most vulnerable populations.
“The Government is committed to eliminating the priority endemic NTDs by 2028, in line with the third National Master Plan for the Elimination of NTDs (2023 to 2027). To achieve this, we will be working with all partners to build on past progress and address current challenges towards these targets,” she announced.
In his remarks, WHO Country Representative Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo announced that WHO is donating medicines to support Kenya's fight against NTDs as well as eliminate conditions like Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiases.
“These diseases predominantly affect the most vulnerable, often perpetuating cycles of poverty and suffering, especially in areas where Water, Sanitation, and Healthcare Services are limited,” said Diallo.
He noted that the NTDs, which affect over 1 billion people globally are dubbed ‘neglected’ because they are often side-lined on the global health agenda, leading to limited resources and the stigmatization of affected populations.
“WHO has donated tablets of NTD medicines which will be used for mass drug administration later this month, aimed to reach over 15 million people across 15 targeted counties in Kenya,” added Diallo.
He further revealed that WHO is donating 28 diagnostic kits for testing 2,688 suspected Mpox samples, along with 2,500 scalpel blades, viral transport media, and swabs for sample collection to strengthen Kenya’s capacity for rapid and accurate diagnosis.
Diallo assured the public that WHO remains committed to supporting Kenya’s efforts in both the elimination of NTDs and ensuring that emerging infectious diseases like Mpox are rapidly and effectively managed.