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 CongoΒ 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 areΒ on life saving antiretrovirals treatment, with 85% TB treatment success rate.Β Β In addition, he noted, that the country has registered progress in reducing malaria burden from 8.2% national level prevalence in 2015 toΒ Β Β 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,Β Β successful replenishment at the global level would meanΒ 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.Β Β 

In theΒ 6th replenishment cycle of the Global Fund,Β President Uhuru reported, Kenya contributedΒ $6 million. He committed toΒ enhance the country’s replenishment share for the 7th cycle.

While addressing the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the PresidentΒ underscoredΒ theΒ needΒ forΒ globalΒ solidarityΒ toΒ steady universal focus across all diseases.Β Β β€œIt is clear that increased investmentΒ inΒ strong communityΒ andΒ healthΒ systemsΒ is neededΒ now more than everΒ before, if we are to tackle bothΒ prevailing and emerging diseases.”  

Additionally, the President highlighted the need for continentalΒ capacitation to manufacture commodities for sustainability and resilience. β€œThisΒ calls for us all,Β as a continent,Β to talk in one voice;Β to ensure that ourΒ home-grownΒ solutionsΒ and strategies are adopted in the fight against the three diseases.”