U.S pledges Ksh.4.1 billion to better Kenya's digital health infrastructure

The United States government has committed a USD 31.1 million (approximately Ksh.4.1 billion) investment in Kenya’s digital health infrastructure.

The investment aims to enhance electronic medical record accessibility at both clinic and community levels, establish renewable solar power plants for hospitals and connect pregnant women to ambulance services via mobile platforms.

The pledge followed a meeting between Health Cabinet Secretary Wafula Nakhumicha and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) leadership led by Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm on Thursday.

The high-level meeting aimed to bolster Kenya's health sector through various collaborative initiatives is in line with President William Ruto’s three-day State visit of the superpower nation that included bilateral talks with President Joe Biden who also announced new US-backed investments in green energy and health manufacturing.

Discussions  also focused on regulatory strengthening to elevate the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) to Maturity Level 3, ensuring robust regulatory practices besides partnerships between the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and US counterparts to advance biomedical research.

The research in the Applied Sciences Hub aims to expand surveillance, answer critical public health questions and introduce novel diagnostic methods, including advanced molecular and serology-based methods, and training in public health laboratory core competencies.

The meeting also addressed the need for health resources to support infrastructure development and the training of healthcare professionals in Kenya. Additionally, the US pledged support for the operationalization and regulatory framework development of Kenya's Digital Health Agency.

CS Nakhumicha also toured the Secretary Operations Centre (SOC) to gain insights into advanced operational protocols.

The meeting comes two days after the United States and Kenya celebrated their long-standing partnership to improve the health of Kenyans, and signed new agreements to ensure that the partnership continues into the future.