Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale has held strategic discussions with Ronald Mutasa and a delegation from the World Bank on strengthening Kenya’s health sector and accelerating the country’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage. 
By Fredrick Kioko,
Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale has held strategic discussions with Ronald Mutasa and a delegation from the World Bank on strengthening Kenya’s health sector and accelerating the country’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
The talks centred on two flagship health investments valued at USD 335 million — the Building Resilient and Responsive Health Systems (BREHS) project and the Kenya Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (KHEPRR) project.
The two initiatives are expected to play a key role in strengthening Kenya’s healthcare system, improving service delivery and enhancing the country’s ability to respond to public health emergencies and emerging health threats.
During the discussions, Duale and the World Bank delegation explored ways of strengthening Primary Health Care and expanding access to affordable and quality healthcare services across the country.
A key focus is the strengthening of Level 2 and Level 3 health facilities, which serve as the first point of contact for millions of Kenyans. The investments are expected to improve infrastructure, strengthen health systems and ensure communities can access essential medical services closer to where they live.
The partnership will also support Kenya’s efforts to build a more resilient health system capable of responding effectively to disease outbreaks, health emergencies and other emerging threats.
The Ministry of Health says the collaboration with the World Bank is designed to move beyond financial investment and deliver measurable improvements in healthcare outcomes.
Duale said the government remains focused on ensuring that resources committed to the health sector translate into better services for Kenyans, stronger institutions and improved capacity among frontline healthcare workers.
The Ministry is also working with development partners to advance reforms aimed at making healthcare accessible, affordable and of high quality, in line with the government’s Universal Health Coverage agenda.
The discussions come as Kenya continues to implement reforms intended to strengthen Primary Health Care and improve the efficiency and responsiveness of the country’s health system.
The BREHS and KHEPRR projects are therefore expected to complement ongoing government efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery while ensuring the country is better prepared to deal with future health emergencies.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga and the Ministry’s Director for Public Health and Sanitation, Dr Stephen Muleshe.
The Ministry said continued collaboration with development partners will remain critical in ensuring that investments in the health sector deliver tangible benefits to communities and contribute to improved health outcomes across Kenya.
