By Michael Wesonga
Eldoret, Kenya: The US Government will continue to fund local HIV/Aids projects.
US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec, on his first official visit to Uasin Gishu County, assured Kenyans of continued commitment to funding of various support programmes.
This is contrary to media reports that donors, especially the US, had pulled out from funding HIV projects.
“USAid funded services to the patients and the community remain unchanged as all USAid partners continue to provide the basic care package required and implement through Government of Kenya facilities,” Godec said at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital on Tuesday in Eldoret.
Diseases
Ambassador Godec singled out the extended donor funding to the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (Ampath) based in Eldoret that has been critical in the fight against the Aids pandemic and other non-communicable diseases.
Ampath was established in 2001 as a successful model of HIV/Aids control that uses a system-based approach to the prevention and treatment of HIV and closely links clinical care, research, and training.
It is currently the largest and most comprehensive Aids care program and has enrolled over 160,000 HIV patients throughout Western region of Kenya.
However the programme underwent a six-month transition period from December last year to last month, after some donors reportedly pulled out.
Resources
“To rationalise and efficiently use the resources provided by the American taxpayers, several meetings involving USAid, Ampath and APHIA took place over two-years. It was finally agreed that a six-month transition would begin in December 2012 and be completed by March 2013,” Godec explained.
“At the same time as this transition was taking place, another donor supporting Ampath ended their support of the programme, resulting in the loss of about 250 Ampath staff.”
He said the US Government was still committed to friendship and commitment to the long term relations with Kenya.
