Kenya's Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called for the faster rollout of two World Bank-funded health programmes worth approximately Ksh43.5 billion. This appeal comes amid a surge in Ebola cases in the country. During a high-level meeting with a World Bank delegation led by Manager Ronald Mutasa on October 29, Duale emphasized the need to address implementation delays and improve resource utilization in the health sector.
The two major health projects, valued at Ksh43.5 billion, aim to strengthen Kenya's health systems and improve disease surveillance. The Kenya Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (KHEPRR) project, worth Ksh15.6 billion, will run from 2024 to 2030 and focus on boosting disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, medical supplies, health-worker training, and vaccine manufacturing.
The second project, the Building Resilient and Responsive Health Systems (BREHS) project, was launched in March 2024 with Ksh27.9 billion in World Bank financing. This project targets primary health-care strengthening, medical commodity supply through KEMSA, and reforms such as the transition to the Social Health Authority. Duale urged the World Bank to align its support with Kenya's national health priorities.
Duale stressed that Kenya must move beyond drafting reforms to delivering measurable improvements in service delivery. He called for a coordinated approach under a common national plan and budget, citing the "One Plan, One Budget, One Monitoring and Evaluation Framework" as a guide for faster results in health financing and digital health.
The urgency for stronger disease-surveillance and emergency response capacities has increased with Kenya recording nine confirmed Ebola cases and two deaths by October 26. The country recently secured Ksh51.96 billion in emergency funding from the World Bank for health emergencies, medicines, agriculture, water, sanitation, and vulnerable households.
In addition to the World Bank funding, over Ksh259 million has been allocated by the United Nations OCHA to aid Kenya's Ebola response. This funding will cover border surveillance, rapid-response team training, and frontline health-worker equipment. Duale's appeal to the World Bank highlights the critical need for accelerated support in the health sector.
The meeting between Duale and the World Bank delegation focused on addressing implementation delays, improving resource use, and pinpointing priority interventions across the health sector. The World Bank's support is crucial in helping Kenya achieve its national health priorities and strengthen its health systems to respond to emerging health challenges.
Key points
- - Kenya's Health Minister Aden Duale urges World Bank to accelerate Ksh43.5bn health projects - Two World Bank-funded projects aim to strengthen Kenya's health systems and improve disease surveillance - Kenya records nine confirmed Ebola cases and two deaths by October 26, highlighting the need for stronger disease-surveillance and emergency response capacities
