Kenya secures Sh59.7 billion Global Fund commitment to combat HIV, TB and Malaria

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Kenya has signed six Global Fund grants amounting to Sh59.7 billion (USD 407,989,068) to support HIV, TB and malaria interventions from July to June 2027.

The breakdown includes USD 232,580,654 for HIV, USD 72,934,665 for malaria, USD 67,785,529 for TB, and USD 34,688,220 for health systems strengthening.

The Global Fund, a partnership of governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities, aims to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria globally.

Kenya's coordinating mechanism, which comprises government, civil society, the private sector, and affected individuals, submits funding proposals and oversees implementation.

"In HIV, the Global Fund has supported procurement of commodities such as Antiretrovirals (ARVs), HIV test kits, condoms and laboratory reagents," said the Health ministry in a statement on Monday, June 24.

The ministry noted there has been a decline in new HIV infections, HIV-related mortality, and mother-to-child transmission by 78 per cent, 68 per cent, and 65 per cent respectively, attributing the progress to improved access to HIV services and collaborative efforts.

The TB program achieved an 86 per cent treatment success rate.

The average positivity rate among TB presumptive cases dropped from 7.35 per cent in 2021 to 5.6 per cent in March 2024, with testing numbers increasing significantly.

The Kenya-Global Fund partnership has also focused on establishing community health units, training health promoters, and deploying Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), further enhancing local health infrastructure.

The grants aim to provide comprehensive care for TB, leprosy and lung diseases, and advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through HIV prevention and treatment.

Malaria incidents and deaths are also expected to reduce by at least 75 per cent by 2027, strengthening health systems at facility and community levels, procuring essential TB, malaria, and HIV commodities, supporting primary health care activities, and offering social support and health insurance premiums for TB/HIV/malaria patients in need.