Nakuru County’s Department of Health Services convened a crucial meeting with the USAID Tujenge Jamii (UTJ) team to address the ramifications of the recent US government stop-work order impacting funded programmes.
The discussion centred on mitigating the effects of this decision on the county’s health system, particularly concerning HIV services.
While a limited waiver has been granted, allowing UTJ to continue direct HIV service delivery, the initial stop-work order has created uncertainty and posed potential challenges. Dr. Moses Kitheka, UTJ Chief of Party, confirmed the waiver, specifying that it covers critical areas such as HIV testing (both community and facility-based), tuberculosis screening for patients, and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) services.
These encompass antenatal care (ANC) testing, partner testing, early infant diagnosis, and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) services for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
The impact of the broader programme changes is still being assessed, but the potential disruption to other health services previously supported by USAID is a concern.
While specific statistics on the number of individuals affected are not yet available, it’s widely acknowledged that USAID plays a significant role in Kenya’s health sector, supporting various programs from primary healthcare to specialised services.
A reduction in funding can strain resources, potentially impacting service delivery, especially in areas like family planning, maternal and child health, and other infectious disease control programs, noted Dr. Kitheka.
Roselyn Mungai, the County Executive Committee Member for Health, chaired the meeting and emphasized the county’s commitment to ensuring the continuity of care for affected services.
She stated that the department will work towards integrating these services across all levels of the health system to optimise available resources.
The collaborative discussion with the UTJ team aimed to inform the co-design of interventions that align with county priorities, effectively utilising the limited resources while awaiting further guidance from the US government.
The meeting concluded with a sense of cautious optimism, as both the county and UTJ teams expressed their dedication to working together to minimise the impact of the funding changes on the community.
The focus remains on maintaining essential HIV services and exploring strategies to bridge any potential gaps created by the program adjustments.
It was concluded that the long-term effects of the USAID withdrawal on Kenya’s health system will depend on the duration and scope of the funding changes and how effectively the Kenyan government and other partners can step in to fill the gap.
Unfortunately, even before the withdrawal of USAID funding, there has been a lot of crying over the numerous hitches in the SHA, the local insurance that replaced the NHIF.
By Veronica Bosibori and Brain Kiplimo