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.
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!