KENYA: “Universal Health Coverage is a Relay” President Ruto Calls for Partnership as MEDs Unveils Ultra-Modern Microbiology Laboratory.
Elizabeth Asasha
Kenya’s president, William Samoei Ruto has called for concerted efforts by the government, private, and faith-based organizations in the journey towards achievement of the Universal Health Coverage.
In his Wednesday, November 22, address during the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS) grand opening of its state-of-the-art microbiology quality control laboratory, President Ruto highlighted the interconnected nature of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), emphasizing the need for a symphony of elements, including facilities, research, training, health workers, and local manufacturing, to achieve comprehensive healthcare.
“I am very pleased to join you today for the launch of this state-of-the-art microbiology quality control laboratory here at MEDS, a facility that will serve and advance healthcare in Kenya and many other countries around our region.” Said the commander-in-chief of the armed forces in Kenya, expressing his enthusiasm for the facility’s potential to revolutionize healthcare not only in Kenya but throughout the region.
“But today is bigger than just one facility because our health system, and more importantly, our shared ambition for Universal Health Coverage is interconnected,” continued President Ruto Who had just jetted back to the country for an official visit to Germany and France “Universal Health Care is not one thing; it is a symphony of many elements coming together efficiently and effectively,” he added.
The head of state also acknowledged the critical role MEDS has played in supplying over 7.5 billion shillings worth of medical commodities to counties and government institutions, complementing the efforts of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) while encouraging closer collaboration between MEDS and KEMSA, and laying emphasis on the importance of consolidating medical commodities to leverage economies of scale.
The launch of the ultramodern pharmaceutical, prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) was described as a significant leap forward for healthcare in Kenya, bringing together leaders from the national, and county government, religious leaders as well as local and international stakeholders in the health sector.
Deputy Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to Kenya and East Africa, Bert Ubamadu, reiterated the importance of the microbiology laboratory in identifying pathogens, particularly in light of the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic taught us the importance of being able to identify human and animal pathogens and this lab will be able to do that right here in Nairobi.” Noted Ubamadu at the historical event, christened as a pivotal moment in MEDs’ 37-year journey of providing life-saving solutions and impacting lives not only in Kenya but across borders. He lauded the long-standing partnership between MEDS and the United States in delivering life-saving support and medical commodities to millions of Kenyan citizens.
Ubamadu further echoed President Ruto’s entreaty for collaboration saying, “Such healthcare systems can only succeed by allowing public, private, and faith-based organizations like meds to provide healthcare services where patients want them under the regulatory offices of the Kenyan government.”
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha Wafula, a former MEDS staff member for close to nine years, commended the institution for its critical role in healthcare delivery as she highlighted the significance of the microbiology laboratory in addressing the drawback on quality of locally manufactured products, and contributing to the fight against counterfeit and substandard medical products.
“There are people who are hesitant to use locally manufactured products and the big question is always the quality. Therefore, the lab that we launch today fills the gap in the quality of locally manufactured products in this country.” Noted Health CS Nakhumicha, adding that the KEMSA-MEDs collaboration balances the 80/20 healthcare equation with KEMSA serving 60 percent and MEDs topping with 20 percent in the supply chain for medical products and the technologies.
On his part, the Anglican Church bishop of Maseno North and MEDs Board Chair, Rt Rev Charles Kaskan Asilutwa, expressed gratitude for the collective efforts that led to the establishment of the microbiology laboratory worth millions of Shillings. 100 million.
He said, “We are grateful to the Ministry of Health and specifically the regulator, the Pharmacy, and Poisons Board (PPB), these achievements would not have been possible without the close working relationship between MEDs, the Ministry of health, and respective directorates.”
Rt. Rev. Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru of Wote, the youngest Catholic diocese in Kenya, offered a prayer for the success and impact of the new microbiology laboratory, invoking divine guidance and blessings on MEDS’ mission to provide reliable and affordable health products and technologies.
In support of the Universal Health Coverage program launched by President Ruto on Friday, October 20, 2023, MEDs expressed solidarity in the initiative that is targeting the strengthening of primary health care by donating 150 Community Health Promoters (CHP) kits to benefit the following 5 counties including Nairobi, Machakos, Makueni, Kiambu and Kajiado counties.
“This is in recognition of the important role that ChPs are playing as the first line of defense in the prevention of diseases and health promotion through screening early identification of diseases and referral to health facilities for management. MEDs is in a position to replenish CHP kits for use at a subsidized cost.”
President Ruto lauded MEDS for sourcing over 81 percent of its supplies locally, aligning with the government’s commitment to prioritize local manufacturers, and extended an invitation to investors to explore opportunities in pharmaceutical manufacturing in Kenya, emphasizing the government’s support through special economic zones.
Ruto pledged that, through the Digital Health Bill, the government will leverage on technology to enhance efficiency in the supply chain and axe corruption, which, he says, has bedeviled NHIF for a long time, including fake claims, crooked people who take advantage of that space.
“We have made it clear at KEMSA that the era of wastage and pilferage, theft and corruption must be firmly behind us and we want to leverage technology to achieve that.” explained the president and expressed willingness to extend the rollout of technology to MEDS as an enabler of a lily-white delivery of service.
Founded in 1986 through an ecumenical partnership between the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK), MEDS has been a beacon of hope in the health sector.
MED, a brainchild of the Reverend Sister Joanne Devanean American Medical Missionary and Pharmacist ((now deceased)), was established to address the challenges faced by church health facilities. Sister Joanne’s vision paved the way for the collaboration of Catholic and Protestant churches in Kenya to create a joint medical supplies procurement program, resulting in the formation of MEDS.
“In 1995, MED’s quality control laboratory was set up with the main aim of testing and assuring the quality of the products stocked by meds, the quality assurance function through the laboratory has recorded great strides over the years and currently offers testing services to 19 countries in Africa and beyond,” stated Bishop Asilutwa.
Through partnerships, MEDs, an indigenous organization has served several regional countries and responded to various humanitarian crises within the region and globally including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia, Chard, Malawi, DRC, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Libya, Philippines, Haiti, Afghanistan and Syria.
As MEDS continues its journey of transformative health solutions, the newly inaugurated microbiology laboratory stands as a testament to the organization’s commitment to quality, innovation, and the realization of Universal Health Coverage in Kenya and beyond.
