Kenya has signed up for the Health Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Resilience Programme, a $15 million initiative funded by the World Bank. The program aims to bolster regional health emergency responses in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and other partners.
Key Highlights:
- Health Challenges and Climate Change: Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha emphasized the urgency of addressing health crises worsened by climate change, citing current cholera outbreaks in flood-affected counties.
- Vaccine Manufacturing: Health Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai stated that Kenya’s priority is to ensure the Kenya Biovax Institute, a local vaccine manufacturing facility, is operational by 2027. This comes amid Moderna’s suspension of its plans to build a plant in Kenya.
- Regional Collaboration: IGAD Executive Director Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu called for improved early warning systems and disaster management to prevent future pandemics from crippling communities.
The Health Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Resilience Programme supports the African Union’s Africa Health Strategy (2016-2030) and aligns with the UN’s pandemic prevention goals. Despite ongoing discussions, the World Health Organization’s efforts to develop a pandemic treaty face challenges, particularly regarding vaccine sharing.
