In a historic moment for Kenya and the African Region, the Cabinet Secretary for Health Dr Nakhumicha Wafula, and the Country Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a WHO Regional Emergency Hub for Eastern and Southern Africa in Nairobi.
The establishment of the hub comes at a critical time when the African Region is facing an increasing number of health emergencies ranging from disease outbreaks to natural disasters, which threaten to reverse years of health and development progress in the region.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Cabinet Secretary for Health thanked the WHO for its decision to establish the hub in Nairobi, recognizing the critical importance of preparedness and response in the face of health emergencies.
The hub will also serve as a modern storage centre for essential medical equipment and consumables that will ensure timely logistical support to countries with emergencies in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Additionally, the hub will house a centre of excellence specialized in capacity building in health and crisis emergency management.
Through this partnership with WHO, Kenya will have access to the organization’s global network of experts, knowledge, and resources, and will be able to leverage the latest innovations and technologies to improve response times and the ability to provide essential healthcare services during emergencies, said the CS.
Terms and conditions for hub establishment
The MOU sets the framework for cooperation and understanding between the Government and the World Health Organization and determines the general terms and conditions towards the establishment of the hub.
โKenya is committed to working with the WHO and other regional partners to strengthen health systems and improve preparedness and response to health emergencies,โ the CS said.
The establishment of this hub is a significant step towards achieving these goals, and with this hub in place, Kenya is better equipped to protect the health and well-being of its people and respond to emergencies with speed and efficiency.
The WHO country representative also commented on Kenya’s leadership in global health in Africa, stating that the government has prioritized health and that WHO is ready to support Kenya in unpacking public health.
Dr Diallo also emphasized the importance of making a difference in people’s health and recognized Kenya’s leadership in tobacco control. The representative also mentioned that Kenya chaired the executive board of WHO last year.
Furthermore, the WHO representative highlighted that the emergency hub is the first of its kind in Africa and commended the commitment shown by the Kenyan government in providing 30 hectares of land for it.
