President Uhuru Kenyatta has recommitted support to the seventh replenishment cycle of the Global Fund.
The President was speaking at a virtual meeting that brought together his counterparts; Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Macky Sall of Senegal, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo and other global leaders, communities, civil society organizations and private sector partners.
President Kenyatta acknowledged the role played by the Global Fund partnership in addressing HIV, TB, and Malaria in Kenya, stating that courtesy of the Fund, 83% of people living with HIV are on life saving antiretrovirals treatment, with 85% TB treatment success rate. In addition, he noted, that the country has registered progress in reducing malaria burden from 8.2% national level prevalence in 2015 to 5.6% in 2020.
Despite the encouraging progress, , the President was quick to point out the pending task if stipulated targets are to be met. He appealed for sustained collective effort as the surest way to meeting the 2030 global target of defeating new HIV infections, malaria, and TB.
According to the Global Fund, successful replenishment at the global level would mean averting more than 450 million infections or new cases of HIV, TB and malaria; accelerating people-centered and inclusive systems for health; and universal protection against the deadliest infectious diseases.
In the 6th replenishment cycle of the Global Fund, President Uhuru reported, Kenya contributed $6 million. He committed to enhance the country’s replenishment share for the 7th cycle.
While addressing the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the President underscored the need for global solidarity to steady universal focus across all diseases. “It is clear that increased investment in strong community and health systems is needed now more than ever before, if we are to tackle both prevailing and emerging diseases.”
Additionally, the President highlighted the need for continental capacitation to manufacture commodities for sustainability and resilience. “This calls for us all, as a continent, to talk in one voice; to ensure that our home-grown solutions and strategies are adopted in the fight against the three diseases.”