Mass layoffs, hospitals' closure in Makueni after Trump's freeze of foreign Aid

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzi Jnr when he appeared before the Senate CPIC committee at the Bunge Towers , Nairobi . August 26th ,2024. [Elvis Ogina,Standard] Makueni County is already feeling the effect of funding freeze by United States President Donald Trump's administration. Some ten hospitals are at the verge of shutting down and 269 healthcare workers expected to lose jobs. Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr speaking to journalist in Wote said there was a high likelihood of losing all gains County had made in the war against HIV/Aids infections in the county. "The workforce that was catering for serious issues surrounding Tuberculosis, Malaria, and all HIV related complications will be lost by end of February. We might get back to ages where stigma had taken control of these patients. Many patients were depending on these drugs and this now is a national crisis that need to be addressed quickly," said Mutula. The Standard has since established that a number of workers in organizations in the county that offer HIV testing, counseling and treatment programs had already been laid off. Florence Muoti, was one among those attached at Makueni referral hospital's TB and HIV/Aids comprehensive care clinic; she is now jobless. "Being a youth, I was friendly corridor for the young people who wanted to undergo HIV/Aids testing, counseling and even treatment. Although I was also handling adults, children and youth would feel comfortable in my hands, that is now lost," Ms. Muoti told The Standard. Jedida Mutiso, a mother of one is a seasoned nurse who was attached at Kikoko mission hospital, in Kilungu was working under CHAK, a Christian health organization to provide HIV services. "Many colleagues working in non-governmental organizations that used to receive US Government funding have since been stopped. For us we were informed to proceed on a three-months unpaid leave and that more communication will be made thereafter. We had to leave and I can't reveal much on whether the centre has ceased operations," said Ms. Mutiso. The three-month unpaid leave seems to go hand-in hand with President Trump's January 20, executive order which ushered in a 90-day pause on U.S disbursement of foreign Aid, the "Stop-work order." As this leaves a chilling effect on majority of HIV clinics that are mostly scattered along the busy Mombasa-Nairobi highway, governor Mutula observes a dreary future for millions of Kenyans living with HIV. Most of these, have for long depended on the US President's Emergency Plans for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) for antiretroviral medicine (ARVs). "The latest statistics show a surge in new HIV infections in Makueni with those between 24 years and 35 being at high risk. The Kenyan government must talk with the US government for this aid to continue," he said Meanwhile, at the heat of confusion surrounding the foreign Aid cut, a high-level delegation from the Global Fund, National AIDS & STI Control Program (NASCOP), the National Treasury, Amref, and the Kenya Red Cross is in Makueni for a week-long tour to evaluate progress in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria. Despite concerns of Aid stoppage, Dr. Andrew Mulwa, the head of NASCOP, confirmed that there are adequate stocks of health products and technologies to last the country for 15 months. During the one-week visit, the delegation will tour various health facilities across Makueni and engage with healthcare workers to further strengthen disease control efforts.

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