Kenya demands Global Equity in Ebola response funding at WHA79

KENYA—Kenya has called for a stronger response to Ebola outbreaks within its borders, advocating for the same urgency and resources allocated to health crises in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva.

Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale delivered Kenya’s national statement, framing the outbreaks as a direct test of the international community’s commitment to fairness in global health.

Hon. Duale argued that African health emergencies deserve the same level of financing, scientific attention, and coordinated international support that other crises routinely receive.

Kenya aligned its position with the African regional statement presented by Zimbabwe on behalf of the WHO African Region, reinforcing a continent-wide call for equity at the heart of global health governance and emergency response.

Fair Access to Vaccines and Benefits

A significant portion of Kenya’s statement focused on the ongoing negotiations around the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) Annex.

Hon. Duale reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to these negotiations, stressing that countries that share biological samples and outbreak data must have guaranteed access to vaccines, therapeutics, and other resulting benefits.

He pointed to the current Ebola outbreaks as evidence of the deep-rooted global inequities the PABS framework aims to correct.

Building a Resilient, Self-Reliant Health Architecture

Beyond the immediate crisis, Hon. Duale laid out Kenya’s broader vision for global health.

He called for a shift away from aid dependency toward sustainable regional pharmaceutical manufacturing, supported by technology transfer, strategic partnerships, and targeted investment.

This transition, he argued, must go hand in hand with financing frameworks that prioritise domestic resource mobilisation and long-term health system resilience.

Hon. Duale also called for stronger multilateral institutions, specifically the World Health Organization and Africa CDC, emphasizing that greater legitimacy, trust, and coordination are essential for effective global health action.

He positioned these reforms not as optional improvements but as necessary steps toward a health architecture that can withstand future public health threats.

Kenya’s Delegation in Geneva

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary closed by reaffirming the country’s commitment to constructive engagement in building an equitable, responsive, and prepared global health system.

Hon. Duale was accompanied by Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, H.E. Dr Fancy Too, Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, and Digital Health Agency CEO Eng. Anthony Lenaiyara, and Director of Family Health Dr. Bashir Issak.