Kenya faces medical supply crisis, endangering millions

KENYA—Kenya is facing a severe shortage of essential medical supplies, including HIV medicines, testing kits, and vaccines, putting millions of lives at risk. 

Public and private hospitals are struggling with a lack of Atazanavir, a key HIV drug, as well as condoms, BCG vaccines for newborns, and most HIV-testing equipment. 

According to local newspaper Daily Nation, this crisis has become especially dire after stocks were depleted during the Christmas period. 

Dr. Ruth Laibon-Masha, CEO of the National Syndemic Diseases Council, has warned that Kenya’s progress in fighting HIV is in jeopardy. 

Currently, 1.378 million people are living with HIV in the country, and the lack of consistent access to essential medications could undo years of progress. 

The situation is worsened by the fact that Kenya has recorded 16,752 new HIV infections this year, with 10,784 affecting women and 5,968 men.

In 2024, the country reported 20,480 AIDS-related deaths, including 2,607 children. This shortage puts not only those living with HIV but also HIV-negative individuals, such as discordant couples, at risk of contracting the virus.

Currently, 97% of people living with HIV in Kenya are on antiretroviral therapy (ART), with 94% achieving viral suppression. The absence of these medicines threatens to reverse these gains.

 In addition, the country has run out of crucial HIV testing kits like Trinscreen, One-Step, and First Response, relying on rapidly depleting Standard Q test kits.

The crisis extends beyond HIV supplies. Health officials have confirmed that BCG vaccines, vital for protecting newborns against tuberculosis, are also out of stock across the nation. 

While 2.6 million doses are expected by the end of January 2025, many infants born in the last six months remain unvaccinated.

Refugee camps, especially in Kakuma and Dadaab, are experiencing a severe lack of vaccines, with limited supplies of oral polio vaccine. 

Moreover, a staggering 89% of healthcare facilities across Kenya are struggling to stay afloat. A survey found that most facilities cannot cover operational costs or meet payroll expenses.

The crisis is linked to systemic issues in the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), where over one million condoms and medical supplies have gone missing. 

A recent audit revealed poor inventory management at KEMSA, with discrepancies in stock balances and inflated drug prices.

In response to the shortage, the Health Ministry has issued guidelines to healthcare facilities, recommending alternative HIV treatments where possible. 

The government has promised that medical supplies will arrive by February 2025. 

However, these assurances come too late for many patients and new mothers, offering little immediate relief.

The current crisis threatens to undo Kenya’s decades of progress in public health, leaving millions in a precarious situation.

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