The Ministry of Health is prioritizing the integration of HIV epidemic control into the broader strategy of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
This was emphasized during the culmination of the 4-day HIV Service Delivery Integration Summit in Mombasa.
The move comes in response to declining international financial support for the global HIV/AIDS response.
Dr. Elizabeth Wangia, Head of Health Financing, underscored the Ministry’s commitment to various approaches aimed at achieving both UHC and HIV epidemic control.
She noted potential areas of friction between disease-specific microtargeting and integrated health systems, while also highlighting opportunities for convergence that could enhance both initiatives.
Central to these reforms is the Social Health Authority (SHA), which aims to deliver the much-needed integration of HIV services into the health system.
Dr. Wangia further outlined that UHC is guided by five pillars: primary healthcare (PHC), human resources for health, health financing, health commodity security, and integrated health information systems.
Kenyans, including People Living with HIV (PLHIV), are encouraged to register with the new body and fund through various platforms such as visits to Huduma centers, SHA offices, and USSD ahead of its launch by President William Ruto. This registration is expected to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality through the latest healthcare scheme for comprehensive care management.
The transition from the National Health Insurance Fund to the Social Health Insurance Fund is also a key development, aimed at saving public resources that will be redirected to provide improved and comprehensive healthcare benefits to all Kenyans.
Dr. Wangia’s sentiments were echoed by the National Assembly Health Committee, chaired by Dr. Robert Pukose, who emphasized Parliament’s role in advocating for funding the Ministry’s initiatives to achieve better health outcomes locally.
