Speech by the Cabinet Secretary of Health

Introduction and Acknowledgment:

Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests, KEMSA staff, and Fellow Kenyans

It is an honour to stand before you today as we flag off essential health products and commodities  ahead of the SHA roll out slated for the 1st of October 2024. I wish to begin by recognizing the vital role played by our president, the entire MOH workforce, the KEMSA team, SHA leadership and management,  health workers, and community stakeholders in making today possible. Your dedication to improving healthcare in Kenya, deserves the highest appreciation.


Significance of the Initiative: This initiative is a key pillar in our Kenya Kwanza government’s agenda for transforming healthcare. Our commitment to delivering Universal Health Coverage (UHC) reflects His Excellency President William Ruto's vision for a nation where no Kenyan is left behind, particularly when it comes to accessing quality healthcare. The government's focus is not just on providing health services but on ensuring that these services are affordable, accessible, and of high quality for all citizens.

Through the distribution of Health Products And Technologies to Counties across the country, we are taking decisive steps to expand healthcare access to every Kenyan. This initiative exemplifies our dedication to delivering on the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritizes uplifting the vulnerable and marginalized groups, especially in the health sector.

 

 

Current Trends in the Health Sector:

Kenya is making strides towards improving healthcare for all its citizens. Currently, our health expenditure stands at approximately 7.2% of the GDP, which reflects our government’s strong commitment to health services. However, more work needs to be done, especially in addressing emerging health trends such as:

       Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): NCDs now account for nearly 27% of total deaths in Kenya. We must focus our efforts on preventing and managing these diseases as their prevalence continues to rise, particularly in our urban and semi-urban areas.

       Maternal Mortality: Our maternal mortality rate remains at 342 deaths per 100,000 live births. This is an area where improvement is urgently needed, and today’s flag-off will support efforts to improve maternal health outcomes by ensuring access to life-saving interventions and medicines for mothers and children.

Introduction of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF):

The introduction of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), under the Social Health Act, marks a pivotal step in our journey toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). SHIF will be designed to provide comprehensive health services without causing financial hardship, a goal that aligns perfectly with our vision of ensuring healthcare access to all.

Through SHIF, we aim to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, which currently account for a significant portion of household expenditures, and increase healthcare utilization, particularly in underserved areas. This reform will ensure that more Kenyans can seek and receive the medical care they need, when they need it, without the fear of financial ruin.

Flag Off of Health Products and Commodities:

Today’s flag off encompasses a wide array of critical health products: from essential medicines and medical supplies to maternal health commodities. These resources will allow healthcare workers to better respond to a variety of health concerns:

       Maternal and Child Health: By focusing on maternal health commodities, we aim to reduce maternal and infant mortality, ensuring safer pregnancies and childbirths.

       Infectious Diseases: The distributed medical supplies will support the treatment and prevention of diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS, which continue to affect our communities.

       Chronic Conditions: With non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer on the rise, these products will also play a role in enhancing the management of these conditions at the community level.

 


Call to Action:

As we move forward, I call upon the community members, health workers, and local leaders to fully utilize the resources that have been provided.  We call on Kenyans to actively register for the SHA services in order to access services in health facilities. Therefore, I urge you to promote health-seeking behavior within your communities, ensuring that people take advantage of the available health services.

Let us work together to educate our communities on the importance of preventive health measures and encourage early intervention when health concerns arise. A healthy nation begins with informed and proactive citizens.


 

Conclusion:

The government of Kenya remains steadfast in its commitment to enhancing health services and achieving health equity. Today’s flag-off is just one of many steps we are taking to transform healthcare in our country, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every Kenyan has access to the care they deserve.

As we stand together today, I am confident that with continued collaboration between government, local communities, and healthcare professionals, we will make remarkable strides in improving our health landscape.

Let us stay committed to our shared goal of building a healthier, stronger Kenya for all.

Asanteni sana!